Buzz Issue June 2019

Invest Augusta highlights city’s potential. Page 4

JUNE 2019 • THE CSRA’S MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

IT’S A TEAM THING

CENTERS OF INNOVATION HELP GEORGIA BUSINESSES MAKE RIGHT CONNECTIONS

By Gary Kauffman

As a business owner, there are times when you need a little extra help — a question answered that’s out of your field of expertise, a connection made with a new vendor or the formation of a new strategic partnership — but you barely have time to answer the phone, let alone do research and find the answers.

Thankfully for Georgia business owners, the state is providing a wealth of information and expertise through the Georgia Centers of Innovation. The Centers of Innovation act as a network hub for business owners.

“When you run a small business, you’re busy making sure everything is running,” said Steve Justice, executive director of the Centers of Innovation. “You don’t have a week or two to go and research something. That’s what we do every day. Because we’re doing it every day, we see connections. Or if you’re at the point where your business needs to go from talking about something to do it, we can advise you.”

The Georgia Centers of Innovation comprise five centers — aerospace, energy, information technology (IT), logistics and manufacturing. The people who work in those centers came out of those industries, so they

Georgia Centers of Innovation Executive Director Steve Justice and David Nuckolls, operations and marketing director, recently visited the Georgia Cyber Center to learn more about the “innovation culture” in Augusta. Photo by Witt Wells

speak the language of those industries. That helps them dive deep into a business to discover the best way to meet their needs and the challenges they face.

“This project is focused on companies in the state of Georgia who want to create that next product or service that will allow them to grow,” Justice said.

Justice and David Nuckolls, operations and marketing director, visited Augusta for sevSee INNOVATION on Page 2

THE

“The Cyber Center will be a resource for all of Georgia because cyber is important to all businesses. It’s wonderful for Augusta to have that impact statewide.”

– Steve Justice, executive director of the Georgia Centers of Innovation

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The Georgia Centers of Innovation have had some contact in Augusta, primarily with theClubhou.se business incubator and the Sumo Robot League. Photo contributed

INNOVATION

Continued from Page 1

eral days in early May to tour the Cyber Center and learn more about the general business atmosphere in the area. The Centers of Innovation have had some contact in Augusta, primarily through theClubhou.se business incubator and the Sumo Robot League.

“But we want to do more here,” Justice said. “We want to learn more about the innovation culture in Augusta and where it’s going.”

The Centers of Innovation work with companies ranging from startups to large corporations.

“But our sweet spot is the small to midsize companies that need help to do that next thing, whatever it is,” Justice said.

“It may be a workforce issue of needing people with certain training or retraining their staff, or maybe it’s a business environment issue, or they need to team with other companies to go after bigger contracts.”

But businesses may not even be aware that their answer is in another part of the state. That’s where the Centers of Innovation can connect businesses with each other to create solutions. Their involvement, however, doesn’t end with just a phone call.

“We don’t just throw a website or phone number at them — we get engaged,” Justice said. “We work with them for six months to a year.”

Justice and Nuckolls were particularly interested in the Cyber Center, not just for what it can do for Augusta, but for

companies across the state.

Cyber knowledge and connections will be vital to all businesses, even the smallest ones, because virtually every business uses computers, smartphones and other gadgets tied to the internet of things. And because they are often supplying larger companies and are tied into their systems, those large companies want everyone in their supply chain to upgrade their cybersecurity. Being able to access experts at the Cyber Center through the Centers of Innovation will be a boon to all of those businesses.

“The Cyber Center will be a resource for all of Georgia because cyber is important to all businesses,” Justice said. “It’s wonderful for Augusta to have that impact statewide.”

The best part of the Centers of Innovation’s services for many companies is that they are free.

“Just reach out to us,” Justice said. “If your company is having challenges, pick up the phone or send us an email. When you call us, you’re not just getting one area, but you’re getting the whole department.”

That means if you’re a manufacturing company and need help with logistics, or you’re an aerospace company that needs to manufacture a part, the Centers of Innovation can give advice and make connections across the board.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of company you are, we can help,” Justice said.

“Economic development is a team sport.

We’re looking to do more projects in Augusta.”

Learn more: To contact the Centers of Innovation, visit georgia.org/ georgia-centers-of-innovation or call 404-962-4000.

2 Buzz on Biz June 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR

Process of learning never stops

By Gary Kauffman The other day my daughter sent me pictures of her children playing a fun game — they’d spin a globe, point to a country at random and then head to the internet to learn about that country (Oliver wants to visit Guinea because they have diamonds and gold; Genevieve prefers Argentina because their houses are bright and multicolored).

I’ve also received pictures of them reading — their goal is to read 100 books in a month — and exploring an old weedy garden for worms, slugs and old potatoes.

The sense of wonder of a 6-year-old and 4-year-old is fun to watch. Everything is new, and the amount of possibilities of what to learn and do seem endless.

Those of us in the business world could learn a few things from these youngsters.

In fact, when you first started out in business as an entrepreneur or starting a career, you might have been a bit like Oli-

ver and Genie. You read and researched, tried various ways to do things and generally had a sense of wonder about what lay before you.

But what about now – two or five or 10 years or more into your business? Are you still in learning mode? Or have you settled into a comfortable complacency?

One of the most dangerous times for a business is when it is enjoying success. That sounds like an oxymoron, but that is often when the owner relaxes a bit to rest on his or her laurels.

Then it becomes easy to keep up the status quo, to go on autopilot and let the business run itself. It’s hard to justify spending more money on something that isn’t broken.

Soon, though, the business model that had been running so well starts falling behind. Others who have spent time reading and researching and trying new things speed on by.

I’ve seen it happen. One client of mine made beautiful oak bedroom furniture in two styles. He enjoyed a season of great success

and so he kept on doing what he’d been doing.

Inevitably, a few years later his business dropped off. Other similar businesses began offering products in cherry, quarter-sawn oak and even exotic woods in a half-dozen new styles. People loved them and began purchasing those products instead of my client’s.

My client, though, steadfastly refused to budge — he’d been successful with his two styles in oak, and he wasn’t going to consider doing anything differently.

The last I knew, his business was continuing its slow death spiral.

Researching, reading and learning can never stop for a business owner, and really shouldn’t ever stop for anyone.

One of the smartest people I’ve known is my dad, who dropped out of school after eighth grade.

I don’t mean just street smarts or practical knowledge — his knowledge of the world, current events and history outshone that of many college graduates.

My dad was so smart because he never let his lack of school-

Features A Wealth of Opportunities..........................4 Invest Augusta showcases business growth in the Augusta area.

Getting Inspired........................................ 24 Plans for new art projects abound in Augusta’s growing economy.

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

Put Your Eggs in Many Baskets................ 26 Diversification of income sources protects your business.

Technology Capital......................................8 Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan thinks Georgia can be the Technology Capital of the East Coast.

Openings, Closings............................. 12, 13 Upcoming Events................................ 14, 15 Businessperson of the Month.................. 22 Chris Walker relishes the career that chose him.

No Need for Hollywood............ 28 Local film producer Karlton Clay finds Augusta has plenty to offer.

Columnists Mark Alison: Take a 360 view to see blessings................................ 9 Samantha Barksdale: In life, people aren’t always who they seem to be................................................................................................30 Ben Casella: Dubbel was delicious in Amsterdam......................30 Tony Creighton: Key to a safe summer by the pool....................20 Christine Hall: Like-kind property exchanges can be tricky...11

Russell Head: Companies required to report their workforce data.............................................................................................................10 Susan O’Keefe: A taste of Italy awaits diners just across the river.............................................................................................................31 Dagan Sharpe: Don’t let a fumble keep you from winning....20 Tammy Shepherd: Chamber’s accreditation goals mirror business objectives..............................................................................18

Like my grandson Oliver, here expanding his knowledge of the world, business owners should be eager to keep learning and exploring.

ing keep him from learning.

He read voraciously — novels, biographies, magazines and the daily newspaper front to back — he listened to conversations and asked questions and, like my grandchildren, enjoyed a general sense of wonder about the world around him.

Talk to any of the most successful and smartest business men and women and you’ll find a similar theme. They never stop learning. They read, they research, they listen, they explore.

No matter what stage you are in your business — fresh startup, peak success or sliding back down — I challenge you to revisit that sense of wonder of young children. Grab a book written by a successful business

person (there are thousands) and read. Even if you only learn one thing, that’s worth it. If you read 20 books in a year and only learn one thing from each of them, that’s 20 new things you can apply to making your business — and your life — run more efficiently and successfully.

And in the end, like Oliver, you’ll discover where the diamonds and gold are.

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 kauffman coaching@gmail.com or visit kauffman coaching.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

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

3

A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES

INVEST AUGUSTA SHOWCASES BUSINESS GROWTH IN THE AREA

By Witt Wells When entrepreneur Tony Lever was growing up in Augusta, he and most of his friends usually had the same answer when asked what they wanted to do when they graduated high school: “I don’t know, but I’m leaving Augusta.”

Lever said that’s not the case anymore because there are now many more business opportunities in the area.

That’s why he started Invest Augusta, a showcase of the companies, investors and business leaders who are leading the increased business growth in the region.

“People want to start here now, people want to grow their businesses here,” Lever said.

Lever and others who spoke at the third annual Invest Augusta conference, which took place at the Legends Club on May 16, covered a few of those business and lifestyle perks that point toward a bright future for Augusta over the next decade.

“There’s a gradual growth that’s going to happen over the next decade here, and it’s really going to transform the Augusta economy,” Lever said. “And Tom Clark, executive director of the Alliance for Fort Gordon, said improved education in cybersecurity will be a huge factor in people are going to look to Augusta for preparing a workforce that meets a local demand for cyber knowledge that is growing. Clark said that cyber classes have been solutions and for answers to cybersecu- added to the curriculum in some high schools. Shown is the Georgia Cyber Center in downtown Augusta. Photo by Witt Wells rity problems themselves vulnerable,” Davis said. “Let that they’re us use the private sector to grow and having.

We bring solutions to bear on challenges can make that we have, but do not lose sight of Augusta that the fact that one of your most imporhub.” tant opportunities and customers are Speakers at federal, local and state governments.” the conference Tom Clark, executive director of ranged from the Alliance for Fort Gordon, added experts in the that improved education in cybersecucybersecurity rity will be a huge factor in preparing industry to a workforce that meets a local demand members of that will continue to grow. Clark said local govern– Entrepreneur Tony Lever that introduction to IT, introduction to ment to acacybersecurity and advanced cybersecudemics. rity have been added to the curriculum “We are, in in some high schools. fact, the most “We have companies moving to our important city region all the time,” said Tom Clark. when it comes to being the epicenter Development Authority in early 2018, tion for manufacturers and cyber conof those things related to cybersecurity Wray has marketed sites like Augusta tractors, Wray said there are very few “We made 90% of the world’s golf cars and what’s happening in this space,” Corporate Park to a variety of large communities that can offer the acreage in our region. But we also have Starbucks, we have EDTS Cyber, we have said Mayor Hardie Davis. manufacturers. Events like the Masters that Augusta can.

Cal Wray, CEO of Augusta’s Eco- Tournament have also allowed him to Davis added that there is a huge de- Unisys that thought in the beginning nomic Development Authority, said showcase the area over the last couple mand for cybersecurity services and so- they were going to have maybe 260 employees and now have grown. We have that over the last six months, $700 mil- years. lutions in the public sector. lion in capital has been poured into But there’s more to Augusta than the “Governments are quite frankly some folks like SharedSpace that have come Augusta. Since joining the Economic Masters. When it comes to site loca- of the easiest targets to attack and find to our area for the opportunity.”

“There’s a gradual growth that’s going to happen over the next decade here, and it’s really going to transform the Augusta economy. And people are going to look to Augusta for solutions and for answers to cybersecurity problems that they’re having. We can make Augusta that hub.”

4 Buzz on Biz June 2019

New Banana Pudding

buzz bits Local company plays role in health alert In a story covered by NPR, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press and other major news outlets, CallingPost of Augusta was named as the tool that helped spread the word about a dangerous measles outbreak and how to help contain it.

A man from Israel who had first traveled to New York to raise funds in the ultra-Orthodox community there next traveled to Michigan, carrying, unbeknownst to him, the measles virus. The virus spread rapidly, and local medical authorities needed a way to communicate news about the outbreak and vaccination clinics to the insular community.

Working with the rabbinical leadership, Dr. Steve McGraw, the EHS medical director for Oakland County, Mich., recorded a message to send out via CallingPost, a message delivery service that enabled the team to ring 1,200 cellphones in the community with the information. Several other messages followed.

“We’re very pleased that CallingPost was able to make such an important and large-scale community outreach possible,” said Phil Alexander, CallingPost’s founder. “Emergency communications like this are just one way our users stay in close contact with their communities.”

CallingPost is used by communities, schools, sports teams, religious organizations and business groups to communicate quickly.

State reps to speak at lunch The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host its Executive Luncheon Series on Wednesday, June 5, at Savannah Rapids Pavilion, at 3300 Evans to Locks Road. Networking and a vendor expo will begin at 11 a.m.

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., and the program will start at noon.

State Reps. Jodi Lott and Gloria Frazier will speak on “Empowering Women to Lead the Future.” The Chamber will also announce the winner of its 2019 Business Woman of the Year Award.

Tickets are available online at

6 Buzz on Biz June 2019

columbiacountychamber.com calling 706-651-0018.

or

by

Chamber’s marketing academy takes applications Applications for the Augusta Metro Chamber’s Small Business Marketing Academy: July to December 2019 program are available for download on the Chamber’s website. The academy, presented by South State Bank, assembles small business owners/managers to learn, share and plan for a growing, thriving business.

Applicants must be in operation at least two years; submit an application; agree to the terms of enrollment and tuition fee; complete a self-assessment of their business prior to the start of the program; and pledge to attend all classes of the program.

Radio station’s diaper drive helps others Local radio station 88.3 WAFJ had to dedicate nearly two entire rooms in its North Augusta offices to diapers in May. In celebration of mothers, the station hosted a diaper drive throughout the month, collaborating with listeners and local businesses who donated more than 44,000 diapers. That included 28,000 diapers from KimberlyClark’s local diaper manufacturing facility in Beech Island.

“It’s like diaper central in my of-

fice and the conference room,” said Jill Kauffman, promotions director for WAFJ. “That’s what a local radio station can do. We love our community and being in the midst of such generosity.”

The diapers were donated to various Care Pregnancy Centers and local food pantries to help families in need.

“This outpouring of generosity is more than we can ask or imagine,” said station manager Steve Swanson.

Clark named influential Georgian Dr. Tom Clark, executive director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon, has been recognized as one of James M a g a z i n e ’s Most Influential Georgians. Each year, James Magazine publishes a roster of major business, political and media players from across the state of Georgia.

The magazine’s 2019 Most Influential issue brings a wide selection of columns on many political, business and news topics of interest to Georgians.

In this issue, the 2019 Most Influential Georgians list provides a glimpse at an array of Georgia’s accomplished men and women and their contributions to the state and brings attention to Augusta’s mission “to become the ‘cybercapital’ of the South.”

Clark was also named as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians of Georgia Trend magazine.

More than 44,0000 diapers were donated to 88.3 WAFJ during a recent campaign to honor moms. Photo contributed

Chamber, banks issue scholarships The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with First Community Bank and South State Bank, provided two $500 scholarships to attendees at the first

annual Career and College Expo held in March. The event for middle and high school students and their parents drew more than 4,000 attendees.

Patrick Pace, an eighth grader at Riverside Middle, received the $500 scholarship from First Community Bank, and Hannah Brown, a 10th grader from Harlem High, received the $500 scholarship from South State Bank.

With the success of the inaugural event, the Chamber Foundation plans

buzz bits to make the Career and College Expo an annual event.

Canal will give teachers free ride on boats This July, teachers can ride free on Augusta Canal’s Petersburg tour boats.

Each teacher may invite one guest, also at no charge, as part of Augusta Canal National Heritage Area’s Teacher Appreciation Month.

“Teachers bring students on field trips during the school year but rarely have time to enjoy our facility on a personal level. This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ for the dedication and hard work of our community educators,” said Julie Boone, education programs coordinator for the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area.

Educators are asked to present a school badge, name tag or ID card at the canal’s Discovery Center ticket desk at 1450 Greene St. Heritage tours depart at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday in July. The Civil War tour leaves at 1:30 p.m. The tours include admission to the interactive Canal Discovery Center.

Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 706-823-0440, ext. 4.

Evans company is named to Georgia Fast 40 An Evans-based communications company will be honored in June for its fast growth.

M-Communications LLC will be recognized by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth as one of the “Georgia Fast 40” companies.

Georgia Fast 40 is an annual list of the state’s fastest-growing mid-market firms.

Teachers will be able to ride Petersburg boats free in July.

M-Communications has a presence in some of Georgia’s biggest sports and entertainment venues, including James Brown Arena and Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia.

M-Communications designs and builds systems that enable high-speed service to run smoothly in high-traffic areas — like stadiums — where thousands of people simultaneously using internet services could quickly bog down those services.

The company started in 2011. Its systems work with AT&T, Verizon and TMobile to handle large volumes of phone and data transmissions simultaneously.

SRNS hires 900, plans for more Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has hired more than 900 new employees so far in fiscal year 2019 and has no plans to stop.

SRNS is the management and operations contractor at Savannah River Site.

It has plans to hire 750 more people over the next two years and envisions continuing the hiring trend beyond that.

“We have enduring missions to perform involving nuclear materials management, environmental stewardship and the Savannah River National Laboratory, as examples,” SRNS President and CEO Stuart MacVean said in a statement. “Performing these missions safely, securely and efficiently requires we maintain certain levels of staffing throughout our organization.”

SRNS employs more than 6,000 people, including 3,000 hired since October 2014. According to MacVean, 80% of those have come from local areas.

“I think it’s important to keep in mind that we are not just filling job openings, we’re offering careers within our extended family,” MacVean said.

Augusta & Co. will give people a glimpse of everything that the area has to offer, from products to culture, history and more. Its location in downtown Augusta, at 1010 Broad St., opened in May. Photo by Witt Wells

AUGUSTA & CO.’S BROAD STREET FACILITY OFFICIALLY OPEN

By Witt Wells After a months-long build-out on a facility designed to highlight the best of Augusta’s rich culture, history, local businesses and outdoor activities, the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau cut the ribbon on the new Augusta & Company on May 10.

The CVB initially moved from Enterprise Mill to Broad Street last year to create an experiential, pedestrianfriendly space accessible and visible to people looking for activities and connection to the local community. The CVB moved into the building at 1010 Broad St. last summer.

Since its completion, Augusta & Co. has allowed locals and tourists to get a taste of what the area has to offer.

“I think we’re looking at how we can keep it fresh,” said Bennish Brown, CEO of the CVB. “How can we challenge ourselves to stay innovative but also make sure we’re telling the Augusta story that we talk internally about — those significant, authentic Augusta experiences? You can do so many different things in a lot of different destinations. How do we make sure we drill down for things that people realize, ‘You know, I can only do this in Augusta?’”

After conducting research on how to successfully represent and market the city to locals and tourists alike, the CVB realized that the Broad Street storefront’s identity as a “visitor center” would not be an advantage, especially when it comes to Millennials.

Jennifer Bowen, vice president of destination development for the CVB, said in January that the prospect of a “visitor center” reminds young people of “their grandmothers’ brochures.”

That prompted the CVB to create a more experiential space with the new building, Bowen said.

“Our local marketplace brings together people who are local artisans,” she said. “They are craftsmen, and we’re able to showcase their product, and then we’re able to tell visitors about how to find them. So, we’re able to push business their way, which is great.

That drives our economy.”

As visitors stepped into the new space on May 10, they were greeted with a sampling of local products like shortcake from local bake shop Watanut and beer from Savannah River Brewing Co., elements that Bowen said will be a core piece of visitors’ experiences of Augusta and Co. Bowen said they will feature a new “product of the week” each week.

The space also has a rotating selection of local merchandise, including products like honey from Augusta Honey Co., shirts, caps, art and many more Augusta-themed products.

“Thank goodness for the Masters, thank goodness we have that name recognition, but Augusta is fortunate to have more than that,” Brown said.

“And that’s what we have to pull out.

So, I’m excited at how we’re now getting a palette to paint that here day in and day out.”

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

7

Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan discussed legislative accomplishments and ongoing priorities at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Post-Legislative Breakfast on May 8.

He said the state can be a leader in health care reform, and he wants to continue making improvements to K-12 education. Photo by Gary Kauffman

TECHNOLOGY CAPITAL OF THE EAST COAST

DUNCAN HAS BIG DREAMS FOR GEORGIA’S FUTURE

By Gary Kauffman Will Georgia become the technology capital of the East Coast? That’s the goal of Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.

Speaking at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Post-Legislative Breakfast on May 8, Duncan outlined accomplishments of the most recent legislative session and highlighted some of his goals, including pumping up Georgia’s technology presence.

“I want Georgia to be the technology capital of the East Coast,” he said. “Not just a Chamber of Commerce flyer; I want to actually earn it. If we do that it means a lot of things are firing on all cylinders. The world is watching Georgia — we’re on the international stage.”

Duncan, who began his first term along with Gov. Brian Kemp in January, said that he is driven by policies, not politics.

“Politics turns my stomach,” he said.

“I ran because policy drives me, not politics.”

A former Minor League pitcher and a successful entrepreneur, Duncan decided after church one day that he should run

8 Buzz on Biz June 2019

“I want Georgia to be the technology capital of the East Coast. Not just a Chamber of Commerce flyer; I want to actually earn it. …

The world is watching Georgia — we’re on the international stage.”

– Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan

for public office.

“I got called to stop complaining and get involved,” he said.

He felt the role of lieutenant governor fit his drive.

“The lieutenant governor is put in the crosshairs of policy every day,” Duncan said. “I was told that in the role of the lieutenant governor, if you’re called a really good umpire, you’re doing a good job.”

That umpire role allowed him to push through a collaborative effort with the state Senate to accomplish several impor-

tant goals.

One was developing a game plan to establish broadband internet service in Georgia’s rural areas. Another was working on telemedicine, a way to deliver health care at a lower cost, which will also benefit the rural areas. And during this past session, educators across the state received a $3,000 pay raise, something Duncan hopes will allow teachers to lengthen their careers.

“I’m proud of the teacher pay raises,” he said. “Teachers are a big part of the com-

munity.”

The Senate also passed a computer science curriculum bill so that schools will offer at least one computer science class to every student.

“Only one half of 1% graduate with one computer science class,” Duncan said. “That sounds like something from the Fred Flintstone era.”

Georgia will also be a national leader in health care reform, starting with the health care waiver bill that will help people transition from government insurance to private insurance.

Duncan had a chance to meet with President Donald Trump recently to discuss Georgia’s health care reform goals, but he said it will take a bipartisan effort to make it happen.

In addition to the efforts to expand Georgia’s technology presence, Duncan said he also plans to continue to work on improving K-12 education, including promoting a stronger partnership with parents in the education process.

“Our best days are in front of us,” he said. “We’re one of the rare states that can say that.”

BUSINESS BASICS

Take a 360 view to see blessings and opportunities

By Mark Alison Do you see and take advantage of the blessings and opportunities that regularly come your way? If so, you are part of a rare breed of people.

Have you wondered why others look at some of the same things you do but don’t see the potential? The answer is that you have cultivated an amazing gift, and it is a crucial one for successful entrepreneurs — perhaps for successful people in any field. Why doesn’t everyone see and capture the opportunities and blessings around them?

First of all, they have not cultivated the 360-degree-thinking view of life. Opportunities can come from anywhere, including from behind.

Some 360 thinking comes from life experiences. It comes with an imaginative nature, possibly tinged with a bit of cynicism. 360 thinking is being able to see patterns in life events — fitting together diverse parts, especially seeing the parts that do not fit and calling them out because they can be spoilers to the whole scene.

Does this make sense to you? If so, you are probably a 360-degree person. But there are other attributes to consider.

Secondly, people miss opportunities and blessings because they accept things as they are without question, ever. If you are always playing by the rules, you are playing someone else’s game.

Play your own game. Make your own rules, and dictate the conditions of the game you play.

Those who see opportunities have a willingness to color outside the lines.

When you think that way, you take control and turn the opportunity into your opportunity.

Third, some people don’t ask for the blessings and opportunities in life. When we ask and expect, we are more likely to see them. If we never ask or expect, how

Seeing an opportunity takes preparation, but capturing and cultivating that opportunity takes work.

much less likely are we to see an opportunity when it is presented?

Asking and believing sets the whole universe in motion — and in your favor.

The very act of belief is powerful inside your brain. The word belief comes from two words: “Be” and “lief.” Be comes from being, which is a state of existence. To be is to live. The second word, lief, comes from the Indo-European word “leubh,” which means love.

So, when you put that together it changes the entire idea of the word belief. Belief means to be in love with. When you are in love with something you want to be part of it — you seek it out.

Fourth, people don’t see opportunities because they are lazy. “Some things appear to come easy to others, so I expect the same,” is wrong thinking.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady makes it look easy. I know some motivational speakers who make it look easy. I know it’s not.

Lazy doesn’t see blessings and opportunities because doing so takes work and it’s not easy. I’ve had the opportunity to write multiple national Telly Award-winning television commercials. It’s 60-90 words.

It’s not that hard but I have practiced it over and over since I was 16 years old. So, when the opportunity came to write these,

I was well prepared.

Seeing an opportunity takes preparation, but capturing and cultivating that opportunity takes work, and work is a four-letter word to some folks.

Finally, I think people don’t seize the blessings and opportunities that come their way because they are more comfortable in their failure. We are all familiar with failure. It is a two-sided coin.

On the one side, failure pushes us to do better and succeed the next time. On the flip side, failure is an excuse to stop, complain, delay and put off. It’s a place to stew, and there are plenty of people in the stew with you, so it feels comfortable.

Doing something always means there is a chance of failure. If you fear failure, don’t do stuff.

But it also means there is a chance to win, to accomplish, to gain, to see victory, to set a new path!

The joy of life is in living. Failure and success are both part of the energy that charges us. Winning is, as one of my friends says, “The Juice.”

There are opportunities and blessings surrounding us daily. See them, capture them and make the most of them. The more you do, the more you will see.

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

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

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RULES & REGS

Companies required to report their workforce data

By Russell Head There are some new EEO-1 reporting requirements for companies with over 100 employees.

Most large companies are aware of the EEO-1 Report, a federally mandated survey that collects workforce data categorized by race, ethnicity, sex and job category. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), employers with 100 or more employees and certain federal contractors must report this data to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by March 31 every year.

Because of the partial government shutdown earlier in the year, however, the EEOC extended the deadline for 2018 EEO-1 reports to May 31.

This deadline applies only to 2018 EEO-1 “Component 1” data. Employers subject to EEO-1 reporting have a new requirement this year regarding information about employee pay and work hours, also known as EEO-1 “Component 2” data. This year, Component 2 data from both 2017 and 2018 is due no later than Sept. 30, 2019.

10 Buzz on Biz June 2019

Background

On Sept. 29, 2016, the EEOC announced that it would begin requiring certain employers to add information about their employees’ wages and hours of work to their EEO-1 reports. This was to be reported using a revised EEO-1 form that labels the new requirements as EEO-1 Component 2 data.

Due to concerns about the burden that the Component 2 requirements would place on employers, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) blocked them in August 2017. As a result, employers did not have to include pay or hours-worked data on their 2017 EEO-1 reports (which were due July 1, 2018).

On March 4, 2019, however, the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., issued a decision that reinstated the EEO1 Component 2 requirements. Two weeks later, the 2018 EEO-1 officially opened, with no way for employers to enter the Component 2 data.

The court addressed this the next day, March 19, by ordering the EEOC to announce how it plans to collect the Component 2 data on the 2018 EEOC-1. The court also ordered the EEOC to collect

the Component 2 data from either 2017 or 2019 in addition to the 2018 Component 2 information.

On May 3, the EEOC announced that it will require employers to submit the Component 2 for both 2017 and 2018 by Sept. 30, 2019.

Employers subject to EEO-1 reporting requirements

With limited exceptions, the following entities must file EEO-1 reports every year: l A private employer that has 100 or more employees (with limited exceptions for schools and other organizations); l A private employer with between 15 and 99 employees, if it is part of a group of employers that legally constitutes a single enterprise, which employs a total of 100 or more employees; and l A federal contractor that has 50 or more employees and is either a prime contractor or first-tier subcontractor, and has a contract, subcontract or purchase order amounting to $50,000 or more.

Although the EEOC sends notification letters to employers it knows to be

subject to the EEO-1 requirements, all employers are responsible for obtaining and submitting the necessary information prior to the appropriate deadline.

An employer that fails or refuses to file an EEO-1 report as required may be compelled to do so by a federal district court. Federal contractors also risk losing their government contracts for failures to comply.

If the preparation or filing of an EEO1 report would create undue hardship, an employer may send a written request for an exemption or for special reporting procedures to the EEOC. Employers may also obtain a one-time, 30-day extension of the EEO-1 filing deadline by emailing a request to the EEOC. However, the EEOC does not grant any exemptions or extensions requested after the filing deadline.

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.

TAX MATTERS

Like-kind property exchanges can be tricky

By Christine Hall One provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed in December 2017 that taxpayers need to be aware of is that like-kind exchanges are now generally limited to exchanges of real property.

Prior to Jan. 1, 2018, tax-deferred exchanges could be done when trading in equipment, vehicles or other business property. Commonly it was used when trading in a vehicle.

Here is an example. Let’s assume that I purchased a vehicle for $50,000 several years ago, used it 100% for business and that I have fully depreciated the vehicle on my books.

My value of the vehicle is now zero.

Then, I decide to trade that vehicle in and, when I do, the dealer gives me $10,000 for my old vehicle to put toward the purchase price of my new $40,000 vehicle.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed in December 2017 made changes to rules regarding like-kind exchanges. The Therefore, I will have to pay changes will have an impact when trading in equipment, such as a new vehicle used for work. the dealer $30,000 (not taking into account taxes, title and There are many rules that must be followed for other fees).

The gain on this transaction is $10,000. The old a like-kind exchange to be legal. For instance, after law allowed a like-kind exchange of this asset by selling a property, the funds from the sale must be reducing the new vehicle’s cost on my books to held by a qualified intermediary.

The replacement property must be identified $30,000. With the new law, the vehicle must be put on the books for $40,000 and a gain of $10,000 within 45 days and acquired within 180 days from when the original property was transferred. Failure must be recognized.

Many times, the depreciation allowed in year one to follow the laws will result in the exchange not does not outweigh the taxable gain and, as a result, qualifying for tax-deferred treatment and could result in a hefty tax bill. the company’s taxable income is increased.

Like-kind exchanges are complex. If you are Section 1031, like-kind exchange, continues to apply to real property that is held for use in a considering doing one, be sure to consult with a trade or business or investment (not principal resi- certified public accountant and an attorney who dence). Real property, also called real estate, in- regularly closes like-kind exchanges prior to the cludes land and generally anything built on or at- sale. Otherwise, you may be in for an unwelcome surprise. tached to it.

Properties are of like-kind if they’re of the same nature or character, even if they differ in grade or quality. Improved real property is generally of likeChristine Hall is a partner in Hall, Murphy & Associates PC, a full-service accounting kind to unimproved real property. firm. For a complimentary accounting, tax or For example, an apartment building would genbusiness consultation, call 706.855.7733 or erally be of like-kind to unimproved land. email cmh@hallmurphycpas.com.

However, real property in the United States is not of like-kind to real property outside the country.

Like-kind exchanges are complex. If you are considering doing one, be sure to consult with a certified public accountant and an attorney who regularly closes like-kind exchanges prior to the sale. Otherwise, you may be in for an unwelcome surprise.

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

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openings, closings and moves OPENINGS

Rising Chiropractic A new chiropractor has opened an office in Evans.

Rising Chiropractic, a new center at 625 Ponder Place Drive, opened in May and uses up-to-date chiropractic techniques, assessment and treatment, according to its website.

It also provides one-on-one consultations, neurological assessments, postural X-rays and care plans.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Balch & Bingham Corporate law firm Balch & Bingham LLP will expand its Georgia presence with a new office in Augusta, according to a statement from the company.

The firm currently has offices in Atlanta and Vidalia, Ga. The Augusta office will be Balch and Bingham’s ninth location nationwide. In addition to its Georgia locations, the firm has offices in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Washington, D.C. With the Augusta expansion comes the addition of a new partner: Benjamin H. Brewton.

“We are excited to join the Augusta community and for the opportunities brought by this expansion,” said Stan Blanton, managing partner of Balch & Bingham LLP. “We have worked in Augusta for many years from our other offices. Our new location will help us increase support for many of our longstanding clients in Georgia, as well as grow our presence in the region.

“Ben is a terrific, widely respected litigator who will contribute to our continued growth.”

Brewton, a seasoned trial attorney and fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, will lead the firm’s Augusta office.

He brings more than 30 years of experience litigating commercial disputes, professional negligence

12 Buzz on Biz June 2019

lawsuits, casualty claims and insurance coverage issues. He has represented clients in trials in both state and federal courts in matters involving medical liability, aviation negligence, electrical utility injury and death, premises liability, personal injuries, insurance coverage disputes and felony criminal cases.

Brewton has tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict and has argued appeals before the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

“I have enjoyed a great working relationship with many Balch attorneys over the past several years and am excited to join the firm and be a part of its growth and expansion in Georgia,” Brewton said. “Balch’s culture and approach to client service provides a great platform to support my practice, and I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues.”

Acoustics and Insulation Techniques Acoustics and Insulation Techniques, a Spain-based audio insulation supplier to the auto and construction industries, will create 45 jobs and invest $12 million in a new manufacturing facility in Augusta, according to a report from Area Development.

The new facility will be the company’s first in the U.S.; AIT is based in Barcelona, Spain. Its products are used in vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo.

Production is slated to begin in July 2019 in the 298,000-squarefoot facility previously occupied by Club Car, near the corner of Tobacco Road and Mike Padgett Highway.

AIT specializes in the development, production and sale of audio insulation.

“We chose to locate AIT in Augusta for a number of reasons, including proximity to our customers and potential markets as well as accessibility through the airport, the Port of Savannah and the state’s highway network,” said Antonio Pomés, CEO of AIT Group and president of AIT Group USA Inc. AIT’s 15-year lease includes an option to expand by an additional 75,000 square feet.

“It’s a great day in Georgia when we can announce an international

New Mediterranean eatery to open in June A new Mediterranean restaurant is getting ready to open in the Sprouts-anchored Crane Creek shopping center.

Pita Mediterranean Street Food, a fast-casual chain based in Atlanta, will open at 630 Crane Creek Drive in mid-June, according to Mike Carino, the chain’s co-founder.

Pita has 22 locations, mostly in the Atlanta area, where the chain first popped up in 2011.

It has become known for gyros, hummus, falafel, a variety of vegan dishes and traditional Mediterranean items. Carino said all of the hummuses and marinades come from the franchise’s headquarters in Atlanta.

“We make all of our foods fresh

to order,” Carino said. “All of it is fresh. That’s what really separates us apart.”

The Augusta restaurant is 1,800 square feet and includes a patio.

“It’s actually going to be a great atmosphere,” Carino said. “Somewhere people can go for dinner at a much more affordable rate than a sit-down restaurant.”

On opening day (the date not been announced as of press time), Pita will continue a tradition it has followed at all of its restaurant openings: free food. Every person who goes to Pita on opening day will get one item at the restaurant for free.

“We’ve been wanting to get to Augusta for a very long time,” Carino said.

Pita Mediterranean Street Food is in the Crane Creek shopping Center in Augusta. Photo by Gary Kauffman

openings, closings and moves company has chosen to locate its North American headquarters here,” said Gov. Brian Kemp.

“I am excited to welcome Acoustics and Insulation Techniques to Augusta. Congratulations to Richmond County and all of our economic development partners who were involved in this fantastic project.”

“The Augusta Economic Development Authority works hard to bring quality jobs to the Augusta area,” said development authority Chairman Steven Kendrick. “AIT is another example of advanced manufacturing jobs that will benefit Augusta and Richmond County for many years to come.”

State Farm A new branch of State Farm will open downtown next month. It will be the insurance company’s only branch in downtown Augusta.

Michael Ingham, previously a representative of Southeast Restoration Group, decided to take the position as a State Farm agent to reach people in an area where he says State Farm hasn’t had an agent in around 20 years.

“Peddling products, that’s not who I want to be,” Ingham said. “I want to be somebody who can have a really deep, authentic relationship with folks and really meet tangible needs in a life-changing way.”

The branch will be at 1126 Broad St., a location that Ingham thinks will give him the opportunity to make personal connections with the surrounding community and provide quality financial assistance for those who might not have it. The branch

will open June 1.

“I could be in a strip mall somewhere off the side of a major thoroughfare, or I could be in a place where a lot of people are walking by,” Ingham said. “You can just connect at a more intimate level with people.

There’s just something about downtowns that can do that.”

Ingham said the branch will include him and two or three other agents.

“I think if I can be a part of helping neighbors move toward financial freedom, to give them some wind in their sails a little bit,” he said. “If you’ve got some stability, it’s a really dignifying thing.”

Ingham said he’s excited to be the first kid on the block for State Farm.

“So much has happened with the cyber stuff and the depot project,” Ingham said.

“We’re a couple turns away. Greenville used to look as bad as Augusta did in the ’90s. Chattanooga used to look as bad as Augusta did in the ’90s. And (those cities) had these remarkable transformations. I think being a part of that journey is going to be fun.”

MOVES

Greenbrier Veterinary Services Greenbrier Veterinary Services has moved into a new building in Riverwood Plantation.

Dr. Ashley Wheatley, who began Greenbrier Veterinary Services in July 2014, said they had outgrown the small storefront facility next to Publix in Riverwood Plantation.

The new facility, at the corner of Washington Road and General Woods Parkway, offers more room for treatment. It also offers a separate area for cats.

Wheatley and Dr. Tiffany Grant treat dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and other small animals. In addition to traditional examinations, the facility offers therapeutic lasers and advanced surgery.

Wheatley will also make house calls.

Greenbrier Veterinary Services has a staff of eight in addition to the two doctors.

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

The Joseph M. Still Burn Center cares for more than 3,000 patients each year.

Its $75 million expansion will include a parking garage, central energy plant, increased surgical capacity and a new three-story tower.

Burn Center breaks ground on expansion Doctors Hospital officially broke ground recently on a $75 million expansion of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center, kicking off the largest investment in the Doctors Hospital Campus since it opened in 1973.

The facility is the largest burn center in the country, caring for more than 3,000 patients from across the country every year.

Just last week, the hospital was re-verified as an Adult and Pediatric Burn Center by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

The expansion project is expected to be completed next summer and includes four major components: a new three-story tower, increased surgical capacity, a new central energy plant and a six-story parking garage.

“For the most part, this facility, which can already do everything, will have more capacity to serve their region,” said Terry Treadwell, chief operating officer for Doctors

Hospital. “We receive people from all over the country here.”

Treadwell said the expansion is going to be a “big game-changer for the burn center,” which currently operates 70 beds in three separate areas of the hospital. The new center will bring the burn center under one roof.

A 102,000-square-foot tower will house the new facility and will include four new burn operating rooms, 20 burn ICU beds, 28 medical beds for patient care and a 15bay post-anesthesia care unit.

The facility’s new parking garage will include 550 parking spaces.

“Everything we do at our hospital centers on care for our patients,” said Doctors Hospital CEO Doug Welch. “It is a privilege to care for the burn patients we serve from our community and from across the country.

“We know this investment will improve our ability to care for them even more efficiently and effectively.”

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

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upcoming business events Tuesday, June 4

Women Who Mean Business, 11:30 a.m., Palmetto Terrace, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta. Four women leading their respective industries will speak. Scheduled speakers are Patricia Allen, Savannah River Remediation; Dr. Julie Blankenship, Brantley Chiropractic; Amy Hane, Long Term Liaisons; and Lt. Col. Rachael O’Connell, Cyber Command Battalion. Registration is required.

For more information, visit northaugustachamber.org.

Wednesday, June 5

Columbia County Chamber Executive Luncheon Series, 11:30 a.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Martinez. This luncheon will celebrate women professionals with the theme “Empowering Women to Lead the Future.” Keynote speakers are state Reps. Jodi Lott and Gloria Frazier. During the luncheon, the Chamber will also award its 2019 Business Woman of the Year. For more information, visit columbiacountychamber.com.

Friday, June 7

First Friday Means Business, 7:30 a.m., 117 Newberry St. NW, Aiken. Informative breakfast meeting with a keynote speaker.

For more information, visit aikenchamber.net.

Thursday, June 13

Energizing Your Team, 3:30 p.m., Western Carolina Fair Foundation, 561 May Royal Drive, Aiken. An educational event. For more information, visit aikenchamber.net.

Business, Banter & Brews, 4 p.m., Western Carolina Fair

14 Buzz on Biz June 2019

Ribbons cuttings scheduled June 3: Concerned Women, 104 Johns St., Grovetown, 4 p.m.

June 5: Sprint Foods, 2480 Crosscreek Road, Hephzibah, 9 a.m.

June 14: Greenbrier Veterinary Services, 1715 General Wood Pkwy., 8 a.m.

June 14: Eye Care by Design, 217 Bobby Jones Expressway, 12 p.m.

June 20: Hyatt House, 1268 Broad St., Augusta, 4 p.m.

Foundation, 561 May Royal Drive, Aiken. A networking event. For more information, visit aikenchamber.net.

Monday, June 10

Chamber Member Town Hall, 4 p.m., Augusta Metro Chamber Office, 1 10th St., Augusta. Topics to be discussed are downtown parking, with featured guest Marcus Campbell, chief of staff for Mayor Hardie Davis; and providing a local employee pipeline with

featured guests Kelly Tabor, recruiting and employee relations manager for TaxSlayer, and Phil Wahl, business education advisor, Security Federal Bank. Registration is required. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Tuesday, June 18

Women in Business, 11:30 a.m., Legends Club, 2701 Washington Road, Augusta. Effective leadership and communication will be discussed in “Lead/Communicate: A Workshop for Success.” The workshop will be led by Wendy Perry, CEO, and Michael Perry, COO, of Catalyst Executive Advising. Registration is required.

For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Thursday, June 20

Member Economic Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, 2 10th St., Augusta. The 2019 Top 10 in

10 Young Professionals to Watch will be recognized. Guest speaker Scott Hilton, executive director for Georgians First Commission, will speak on “People Ingenuity Meets Business Innovation.” Registration is required. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Networking for Leads, 4 p.m., Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, 1000 Business Blvd., Evans. A structured program designed to cultivate meaningful business relationships.

For more information, visit columbiacountychamber.com.

Monday, June 24

Business After Hours, 5 p.m., Mount Vintage Golf Club, 375 Mount Vintage Plantation Drive, North Augusta. A networking Catch the Buzz!

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

AUGUSTA’S INNOVATION NEWS

and relationship-building experience.

Registration is required. For more information, visit northaugustachamber.org.

THE

Thursday, June 27

New Georgia Economy, 7:30 a.m., Georgia Cyber Center, 100 Grace Hopper Lane, Augusta. A half-day workshop co-sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Augusta Metro Chamber that will look at emerging trends and risks and the impact to small business, innovation and entrepreneurship. Registration is required. For more information, visit augustametrochamber. com.

At theClubhou.se All events are held at the Georgia Cyber Center location unless otherwise noted.

June 5: 1 Million Cups features Say What and Closet Play Image this month! 8-9 a.m.

June 6: Augusta Blockchain plans to start building community around blockchain projects in greater Augusta. 6-8 p.m.

June 7: PyNight, a competitive night of Python programming, hosted by Booz Allen Hamilton. 6-9 p.m.

June 12: Lunch & Learn – An Entrepreneur’s Guide to SEO, with Rebecca Best of Emineo Marketing. Noon to 1 p.m.

June 12: Beer & Bytes welcomes guest speaker Mike Schroll. 5:30-7 p.m.

June 13: Cloud Meetup looks into data management over our heads. 6-8 p.m.

June 20: PyAugusta is presenting on data analysis. 6-8 p.m.

June 25: Agile Augusta optimizes project management approaches. 6-7 p.m.

June 27: Augusta Developer is collectively looking at dev solutions. 6-8 p.m.

June 28: Growler Gardening with Augusta Locally Grown at theClubhou.se Community Garden on Telfair Street. 5-7 p.m.

ONGOING l Entrepreneur members of theClubhou. se meet every Wednesday morning for Founders Circle, 9-10 a.m. l Augusta Locally Grown’s downtown pickup location is at theClubhou.se’s Telfair Street location every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. ALG has launched its initiative Nourishment19 out of theClubhou.se.

This includes a variety of agricultural endeavors, from harvesting to buying local produce, to educational movie nights and collaborative projects. Read more at its website augustalocallygrown.org.

ACCELERATOR

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRANSPARENT INTERIORS Rebekah Correll Founder

Envision a fresh perspective on your own style within your space and how that will feel. theClubhou.se member Rebekah Correll assists clients in achieving that by developing interior designs which she likens to experiential art.

She says, “The home should reflect those who live there.” With that in mind, Rebekah set the course for providing people access to affordable interior design that puts them at the center of the process.

Rebekah studied Interior Architecture and Design at Samford University and was always in the studio, she said. “We had a very tight-knit community in the design department and we all loved working on our projects together!” Following graduation, Rebekah landed in Charlotte and began working part-time for a large E-design company while searching for a full-time role in traditional design firm. Over the course of a year with the company, Rebekah discovered she loved working remotely and, specifically, in residential design. “During my time with the large E-design company,” Rebekah shared, “I realized that the online design process had a lot of room for improvement, so I decided to build my own company and create a better design and more personal product for clients .”

She founded Transparent Interiors in 2018 in Charlotte, NC as an interior design side-hustle, though it soon developed into her passion project. Transparent Interiors is an online, interior design service. While the business is now technically located in Augusta, GA, being an online service enables Rebekah to work with clients from

anywhere in the world. Rebekah explains, “If you have access to the internet, I can work with you! I use a fast and simple process that is personal, but also affordable, giving my clients a great design in just three weeks. The process also includes a realistic rendering of the newly designed space so clients can see exactly what their design will look like before making any purchases or changes.”

Rebekah begins the process with establishing the inspiration and needs of the space. The floor plan is to reflect the client’s personality and the intended functionality of the space. The next step is the Mood Board which is comprised of the sourced items, the main focus of the room, and this establishes an overall design. All of this gets factored into the Design Board Rendering which Rebekah feels is groundbreaking for helping clients to visualize the space. Rebekah then delivers an Implementation Plan to the client with installation guides.

Once a client has the design, they have flexibility to work with the recommendations and their budget. Rebekah wants people to understand, “design can be accessible. Hiring a designer does not mean you do not have your own style. Like a personal trainer, hiring a professional designer to assist you allows the process to be less time-consuming, stressful, and expensive.” A recent husband and wife client required the delicate balance of handling opposing styles. The wife had a West-Coast-mixed-withmodern style, and the husband was more traditional. Rebekah loved the challenge and was able to successfully combine their stylistic personalities.

Rebekah was asked how working out of theClubhou.se has been helpful, “More than I could have ever expected! The Startup Life program has not only given me

REBEKAH CORRELL fantastic resources: mentors, food, opportunities, but has also given me an invaluable community. The group at theClubhou.se has been a support team while I have grown my company and has offered me chances to learn from so many people who have gone before me and have been so successful.”

Considering the challenges associated with entrepreneurship, Rebekah responded, “Time is a precious resource and being able to invest my time in something I am so passionate about is such a gift. Being able to devote myself to creating something that will inspire and benefit people has been so rewarding.”

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

June 2019 Buzz on Biz

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R E C O G N I Z I NG TODAY ’ S

TIM DALTON President 4468 Columbia Rd, Suite B Martinez, GA 30907 706-650-1100

At Integra Business Brokers, we are helping entrepreneurs reach their dream of business ownership.

All businesses will change hands at some point whether a family member takes over ownership, employees buy out the business, or the business confidentially goes on the market to sell. And that is what we do, help people sell and buy businesses.

I myself am a long time entrepreneur having owned a roofing company, paint store, retail mattress business, real estate company and a business brokerage firm over the course of my working career. Most of those businesses I bought from a previous owner and understand the complexities of buying and eventually selling a business. At Integra, we recognize the goals of business sellers to maintain confidentiality during the sale of their business and the desire to obtain maximum value in a sale. We also realize a buyer wants stability in the new business they are purchasing and expects an acceptable return on their investment of money and time in buying an existing

business. All business sales have some give and take, but have to satisfy the seller’s and buyer’s major objectives for a deal to work.

As business brokers, we do much more than find a buyer for a business sale. Someone needs to assist a buyer with obtaining financing to purchase the business, work with landlords to get a new lease, help with arranging their new legal structure; banking, insurance, transfer of licenses, working with closing attorneys and several other important items.

I am a big proponent of buying an existing business as most everyone has heard that the majority of business start ups fail. But when buying an existing business with a successful track record, you are in business from day one with customers, trained employees, systems and procedures and your chance of continuing success is exponentially greater than a start up.

So if you’re interested in learning more about selling or buying a business, please give us a call. Business ownership and entrepreneurship cannot be beat.

ENT RE PR EN EUR

WE PLAN. YOU PLAY. Community is very important to me – the events with the greatest impact in my life involved getting others together, people need community. In college, I helped throw parties, plan community service projects, and a lot of work organizing and inspiring others.

I had been involved in recreational sports leagues in Nashville before moving to Augusta. Once here, I realized that opportunities for adult sports were limited, and there weren’t many opportunities in general for adults to get together.

Since I was looking to start my own business, I contacted the person who ran the leagues in Nashville mid-2012 and by April 2013 the Augusta Sports Leagues was underway…

The initial sport was Kickball, which started with eight teams and has become the most popular with not much recruiting effort. It proved my point that Augustans were looking for something to do.

As of the time of this publication, ASL has approximately 6,000 local adult members 4-5 seasons of sports per year. Kickball, Softball, Flag Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Sand Volleyball, Cornhole, Dodgeball, and are working to add some more options in 2020.

We host corporate events and workshops on Communication, Team Building and Leadership. Also, we host social events, such as the Augusta Craft Beer Festival @ SRP Park in late April with 15002000 in attendance, and are working on several events for the Fall

2019. Lastly, we are working on six tournaments per year to bring regional teams to Augusta.

My other business, Motiv8.life provides training for organizations and individuals on communication, leadership, sales training, and team-building. I had the opportunity to personally coach every TEDxAugusta speaker for all 4 events (over 40 community leaders) and speech preparation for a US Congress Testimony.

ASL doesn’t require athletic prowess to be able to play or have fun…

Come play with us – upcoming activities: June 3: Last day to register for Corporate Coed Kickball League (Mondays) New League June 19: Wednesday Happy Hour Social & Cornhole @ 2nd City Distillery Tap Room 8th St. Early June: Deadline for Summer Sports Kickball (multiple leagues/ Divisions); Softball (Mens & Coed); Flag Football (Mens & Coed); Basketball (Men’s & Coed); Coed Sand Volleyball; Cornhole (open and social divisions) August 17: Adult Field Day (get your coed team of 8 together for fun of all types) October 19: Oktoberfest Gymboree (Beer Garden, Festival, and Obstacle Competition)

KEITH EDMONDSON Director 540 Telfair St Augusta, GA 30901 706-309-0280

To learn more about the ASL experience: www.augustasportsleagues.com

ADVOCACY

Columbia County Chamber’s accreditation goals mirror small business objectives

By Tammy Shepherd It’s amazing how fast the last five years have flown by! It seems like it was just the summer of 2014 when the Columbia County Chamber last applied for accreditation through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Not only did the Chamber apply, but we were awarded the top level of 5 Stars!

In 2009, the Chamber was awarded 4 stars! This was amazing for a 15-year-old organization.

To give you a feel of what a huge accomplishment this was, currently there are approximately 7,000 Chambers of Commerce in the United States, and only 211 Chambers have been bestowed the honor. These Chambers represent the top 3% being recognized as Accredited, or Accredited with 3 Stars, 4 Stars or 5 Stars. Georgia is the second-highest state with the most accredited chambers. Glad to say we are one of the 14 in the state.

It’s now time to once again reapply for Accreditation. This task is not taken lightly. It is the decision of the Board of Directors to invest in the energy, time and expense to go through the process.

This process is a living, breathing document that the entire board and staff work on for several months. The board of 25 is broken down into eight groups along with one staff member. Each group works on a section to answer the questions, including essays, and to provide the backup documentation needed to support the answers.

After the four months of working on its section, each group presents to the entire board. The goal is for everyone to know, operate and uphold the standards that we stated.

Although the process is tedious, it gives everyone a greater appreciation of the organization and the successes that are accomplished each year.

Obviously, by looking at the numbers, not every chamber even applies, so why do it? According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, by earning Accreditation, a chamber shows its dedication to: l Reviewing, improving and promoting strong business practices l Recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community l Supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies

18 Buzz on Biz June 2019

l Establishing best practices and staying in step with industry changes As the Board and staff, we want our community and business members to know that they are investing in an organization whose standards of operation have been reviewed and measured to the best in the industry.

Since the Chamber is operated much like a small business, the nine areas of our Accreditation process can be applied to most any business. Here’s a high-level view of some of the documents reviewed.

Various trade industries have accreditation processes of their own. Take a few minutes and ask yourself about these items for your business!

Governance/Organizational Structure l Bylaws l Articles of incorporation l Organizational charts l Handbooks for board of directors and volunteers l Agenda and minutes l Purpose and goals of committees Program and Product Development l Strategic plan l Annual report l Description of current products, programs and services l Environmental scan

Finance l Review of profit and loss, balance sheets for a five-year period l Financial policy and procedure manual to include cash flow, investments and operating reserves l Annual audit and tax returns l Budget Human Resources l Job descriptions l Personnel policies l Orientation process l Employee benefits and training Government Affairs: Although this is a key role of the Chamber, for a business, it would suggest becoming aware and engaged in legislative process. l Legislative policies: Where does the company stand on legislative issues? l Communications with industry relative to legislative initiatives l Relationship and communications with elected officials l Working with resource groups to make your voice be heard Communications l Written communications and marketing plan with clear annual goals l Style guide

Technology l Data protection and privacy policy l Communication equipment plan l Computer hardware and software guidelines l Technology plan Facilities l Projects appropriate business image and is accessible to customers l Interior and exterior facility l Office safety l Properly maintained office equipment l Has a crisis plan in place How did your company or organization do? Are most of these documents used on a daily basis, or do they just sit on a shelf ?

As we make reapplying for the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation program our top priority of the summer, I would encourage you to ask the questions and make sure your company is striving for operational excellence, too!

Tammy Shepherd is president of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and has worked at Disney World, Savannah Rapids Pavilion and Columbia County Magazine.

Email tammy@columbiacounty chamber.com.

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June 2019 Buzz on Biz

19

PERSONAL GROWTH

INFRASTRUCTURE & LOGISTICS

The key to a clean and safe summer by the pool

By Tony Creighton

Don’t let a fumble keep you from being a winner

By Dagan Sharpe We all make missteps and mistakes — that’s a part of being human — but it’s how we recover from those mistakes and continue to move forward that shapes our character for better or worse.

In the business world, I have personally seen people crumble from their mistakes. Whether it’s corrective feedback they received or mistakes they made, their “fumble” ends up crippling them, and as a result, their entire demeanor changes.

They slump, pout and eventually fade out.

However, there are others who, although they may not like the feedback, or fumble, adapt to it, learn from it and improve because of it.

These are champions, and these folks typically succeed in most any environment.

Most people celebrated Tiger Woods’ recent comeback victory at the Masters Tournament, because he refused to quit. Instead, he persevered, learned and grew, and eventually won – again.

Our failures don’t define us unless we allow them to — but neither do our victories. It’s our character that makes or breaks us whether we win or lose.

20 Buzz on Biz June 2019

Are we improving, are we humble in victory and honorable in defeat?

Do we continue to move forward, or do we crumble?

It’s easy to quit, but there is great loss when we do. We lose out on lessons learned, endurance strengthened, integrity sharpened and character harnessed, and we miss out on serving as encouragement to others.

The world loves winners. Being first is the name of the game, and in an effort to win, countless hours are invested in training, practicing, enduring, persevering and aspiring.

It requires an all-consuming focus and intensity to be No. 1 and remain a winner.

As much effort as we put into winning at sports, our careers, our hobbies, our art and our craft, which is great, how impactful would our lives be if we invested the same intensity to those things that might not always get noticed and applauded, like our faith, character and care for others?

For me, it seems so much easier to pour all my passion and drive into my career, because there is immediate benefit I can see, like money, recognition, promotion and prestige. However, no matter how much success one may achieve in these areas, it can all be lost, taken

away and forgotten. It’s temporal.

Yet, when my focus and pursuits center around my faith, hope and love, I discover the changes this focus creates in my character and capacity to care for others. This has immeasurable impact on my family, my relationships, my community and my level of joy and contentment.

Interestingly, my contentment is short-lived when based solely on my wins in life, because they never last, but when I aspire to live with a perspective that stretches beyond my accomplishments and toward something greater, something powerful happens in my soul, and spirit, that impacts everything else I do, and the relationships I hold most dear.

Winning is great, and the discipline, victories and comebacks are awesome and should be cheered.

Yet may we never neglect our eternal legacy merely for the temporal and temporary we can see.

sharpe@qnbtrust.com.

Dagan Sharpe is senior vice president of Queensborough National Bank & Trust and the author of Highways End and Full Disclosure.

Email him at dagan.

It’s that time of year again: the time for pool parties, barbecues, summer holiday picnics, outdoor birthday bashes and just beating the heat poolside with friends and family after a long day at work.

That said, how many of us actually notice our pool deck surfaces? With the hustle and bustle of activity comes heavy foot traffic, dirt and debris being scattered and spread, as well as sticky spills from those umbrella drinks taking a tumble.

And, while the inside of the pool is supposed to be wet, of course, dampness in other areas can be damaging and dangerous.

During a wet year, or in areas such as the CSRA, where humidity is a constant, mildew, algae and other organic materials can grow on most outdoor surfaces.

Not only is organic growth displeasing to the eye, but it is also unsafe.

Algae and mildew are indeed very slippery when wet, and in an area where there might already be a water hazard, an extra one is not needed. Additionally, if left over a long period of time, an accumulation of algae and other organic growth can cause concrete and other pool deck surfaces to crack, leaving you with more hazards and a large repair bill.

Relaxing by the pool should be just that — relaxing.

And when the pool area is just as sparkling as the water inside, that’s just what it will be — relaxing and enjoyable.

Hiring a licensed and knowledgeable pressure-washing company to clean your pool deck surfaces not only saves you money in the long run, it also saves you time that could be spent poolside. With annual cleanings of your pool deck surfaces using commercial-grade, environmentally safe detergents, your pool and outdoor surfaces will remain free of the dangers of algae, mildew and other organic materials.

A pool deck needs to be cleaned regularly.

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 allclean augusta@gmail.com.

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June 2019 Buzz on Biz

21

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE MONTH

CHRIS WALKER RELISHES THE CAREER THAT CHOSE HIM

By Gary Kauffman Most people choose a career. In Chris Walker’s case, the career chose him.

Walker had worked as a nurse where he grew up on Long Island, New York, and was studying physical therapy when his sister was struck and injured by a street sweeper. Returning home in the late evenings after his shift, he heard her cries as she dealt with the pain of her injuries.

Then one night she wasn’t crying.

Chris Walker, Walker Chiropractic That day, he discovered, she had visited a chiropractor, which had eased her pain.

That changed Walker’s thoughts about physical therapy, and within a few weeks he was working for that chiropractic practice. Soon after, one of the chiropractors took him aside.

“He said, ‘I think you’re wasting your life. If there’s anyone who should be a chiropractor, it’s you,’” Walker recalled. “I always say that chiropractic chose me, I didn’t choose it. It was not even on my radar.”

But helping people without using drugs was important to him, because even then he could see the beginnings of the opioid crisis.

“Coming from a nursing background, I could see people going away from pain management to opioids,” he said.

With the help of the chiropractic practice, he enrolled at Life University in Atlanta, where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and made valuable connections with some of the top chiropractors in the country. That led him to work in a practice in Detroit, where eventually he oversaw three clinics. That helped him learned the business side of the chiropractic business.

After a year in Detroit, Walker returned to Atlanta, and soon after took a position with a chiropractic practice in Augusta, where he treated patients for three years before striking out on his own.

It was during that time that he met his wife, Winter, who had been a project manager for the natural gas pipeline that

22 Buzz on Biz June 2019

was built from Savannah to Anderson, S.C. Together they decided that they had a firm foundation of friends in Augusta, and they were able to negotiate a lease for a building previously occupied by a chiropractor. They opened Walker Chiropractic in 2010.

Walker credits his wife for helping in the success of his practice.

“She’s the detail person and I’m the dreamer,” he said. “Somehow together it works.”

Friend and business strategist Bruce Klassen gave Walker advice that helped the business grow, but Walker did ignore him when it came to developing the practice’s tagline: “We move the bone, God does the healing.”

“He said he didn’t think that in this day and age you could (mention God),” Walker said. “About two years later, we’d reached a milestone, and he called and said, ‘I was wrong. I’m glad that’s one piece of advice you didn’t take.’”

Walker said that tagline has held him and the practice to a higher standard of service.

“It tells people who we are,” he said.

“When they open the door, I’d better be a mirror of that. As a chiropractor, my job is to make sure the brain and body are communicating the way they’re supposed to. We already have the greatest healer.”

A big component of Walker Chiropractic is patient education. He takes time to discuss a patient’s X-rays and develop a treatment plan before starting on any treatment.

“We can help a lot of people who don’t need to have surgery,” he said.

His education efforts have spread into the community and include other health care providers. That has created a symbiotic relationship with some that provides better patient care.

“Ten years ago, an orthopedist would have never sent us a patient,” Walker said.

“Now we get two or three a month when they see it’s a non-surgical case. The goal ultimately is to get the patients well.”

Some states are now considering laws making it mandatory that patients see a chiropractor for pain treatment before they can be prescribed opioids.

“Instead of covering up the pain we’re getting to the root of it,” he said.

Augusta chiropractor Chris Walker says he never tires of helping his patients manage their pain. He says educating people is a key part of his work. Photo by Gary Kauffman

In his own words

What are you passionate about in your business?

“Serving and helping others. I haven’t worked a day in 15 years. Going to school was work, but laying hands on people and helping them get well isn’t work. I’ve never felt like not getting up in the morning and going to work. We lost two children (most recently 2-year-old Zeke last December), and work is one of the things that helped me heal. There’s nothing like helping others to soothe the soul.”

Who inspires you?

“The biggest inspiration is my wife.

She’s the strongest person I’ve ever known. What makes me strive to be the best every day is that I promised both my kids on their last breaths that they can look down on me and be proud of me. Every day I ask God to give me the strength to be that person.”

How has the loss of your children changed your outlook on life?

“I’m living every day to live life to the fullest possibility because life is just too short to waste it on unhappiness. Unhappiness shouldn’t be an option.”

How do you unwind?

“Luckily, I married my best friend, and we spend a lot of time together. I play golf — I don’t play it well, but right now it’s really fun because my 10-year-old is get-

ting into golf. It gives us a lot of fatherson time. I love to read, either something spiritual or self-help or some kind of weird cop novel. I love to cook. My wife bought me a smoker, so I smoke a lot of things and I do a lot of Italian cooking.”

How do you give back to the community?

“We give to numerous charities. My wife and I didn’t grow up with a lot, so we’re always trying to do things to help others. We get inundated with requests and we try to do as much as we can. Our Got Your 6 program offers reduced rates to first responders and military whose insurance doesn’t cover this. Recently, in honor of Zeke, we raised $11,000 for the NICU that will be managed by nurses so they can get kids some of the things they need that might not be covered by insurance.”

What does the future hold for you and your practice?

“Last year, we expanded the building and brought on Dr. Anna Story. If we bring on another good doctor, we’ll look into opening another location. Personally, I’ll probably never retire, although I might change my hours. As long as I have the ability to improve someone’s life, I will continue to do so. I want to watch my son grow up, and I would love to have another child. And I’d like to finally break 90 in golf.”

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GETTING INSPIRED

PLANS FOR ART PROJECTS ABOUND IN AUGUSTA’S GROWING ECONOMY

By Witt Wells When Pax Bobrow, project manager for the Augusta Arts Council, was first hired as an intern for the city’s public art agency three years ago, her job was to handle Arts and Economic Prosperity 5, an extensive nationwide study of the economic impact of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences on local economies throughout the country.

The fifth iteration of the study concluded that total spending by arts audiences in the United States amounted to $102.5 billion in 2015.

That same year, Augusta voters approved a SPLOST 7 referendum, allocating $1 million for the installation of a series of “gateway” monuments throughout the city.

That decision is now coming to fruition.

Three finalists have been selected by the Augusta Arts Council to present a vision for the first monument, which will be installed near the intersection of Riverwatch Parkway and Alexander Drive.

Once a proposal is chosen, the artist will have a $225,000 budget for the installation.

For now, the council has remained quiet about the artists and details of any of the proposals. It aims to celebrate the installation in the fall of 2020. Just as important as the monuments themselves, Bobrow said, is the impact they will have on the community.

“What really inspired me is that arts really are an engine for economic prosperity, because people come out of their hiding holes and spend money on the arts,” Bobrow said.

The council’s ongoing effort to increase the art scene in Augusta stems from the same premise expressed in Arts and Economic Prosperity 5: that local economies benefit significantly from having a thriving arts scene.

According to the study, one-third of attendees of arts-focused festivals and events come from out of town, and they spend twice as much money at those events as locals do ($47.57 per person versus $23.44 per person).

Furthermore, the study found that around two-thirds of nonlocal attendees of arts events said the event was the primary reason they came to town.

“The arts not only get people outside their comfort zone, but they spend money on the local economy,” Bobrow said.

The gateway monuments are far from

24 Buzz on Biz June 2019

Art’s presence is growing across Augusta, as seen through several projects, including Art the Box, in which artists turned traffic engineering control boxes in downtown Augusta into their own canvases. Photo by Witt Wells

“The arts not only get people outside their comfort zone, but they spend money on the local economy.”

– Pax Bobrow, project manager for the Augusta Arts Council the only public art projects in the works in the Augusta area.

Take the Golden Blocks Project, a joint effort between the arts council and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. The project, whose title references a nickname given to the community in its heyday, has been in the works for around six months.

It aims to celebrate the Laney-Walker/ Bethlehem area, a part of the city that has

a rich history of being a place where minorities could thrive.

“That district used to be a husting and bustling black community in the late 1800s,” said Sala Jeter-Allen, an Augustabased visual artist and former art teacher at Jessye Norman School of the Arts.

“The decline started in the late 1960s, and it hung on for a while until the ’80s.

There’s a lot of rich history in that area.”

Jeter-Allen (as an artist she goes by Sala Adenike) and three other artists — Sara Cooks, Ashley Gray and Kristie Johnson — are approaching the Golden Blocks project not only as a celebration of area’s culture, but as a new source of life in a neglected community.

“The potential is there, but it’s been drained for several political and economic reasons, and redlining, which is what happened to many African-American communities in America,” Jeter-Allen said. “There are some shining lights in the community, but there are properties that have been ignored for long periods of time. Hopefully, when the Golden Blocks

project is finished, it will be an inspiration.”

The project brings together a diverse collection of artists; Gray is ceramic sculptor based in Aiken; Johnson is writing a poem that encompasses the area’s history; Cooks will use her expertise in American sign language interpretation.

Together, the artists hope to create something that inspires, educates and brings a sense of pride to the region.

“Artists, religious people, the business community, it’s our turn to help the community thrive once again,” Jeter-Allen said.

One of Jeter-Allen’s biggest inspirations as an artist and former teacher is the potential for art to inspire children.

“My personal opinion is when you start with the babies and expose them to the arts, you have more patrons of the arts,” she said. “Children who participate in the arts do better in their academics.”

For example, she’s encouraged by what she perceives to be an increase in the number of plays being put on by young

people locally, particular the Augusta Junior Players, as well as new vibrancy in arts programs in Richmond County schools.

These days, the works that inspires her most are found in the exhibits of student artwork found in places like the Morris Museum and Richmond County Board of Education.

Jeter-Allen has also been encouraged by the remarkable growth of Arts in the Heart, which she sees as a hopeful representation of the city’s growth. The festival has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the municipal building parking lot. It has become incredibly diverse, celebrating the artistic tradition, influence and beauty of many different cultures.

“The arts council was really instrumental in getting us to Augusta because of Arts in the Heart, small as it was back then,” Jeter-Allen said of her family’s decision to move to Augusta in 1982, just a year after the festival’s inaugural year. “It was one of the deciding factors in making us come to Augusta and deciding we can open a business and making a go of it.

“I would even go so far as to say that we helped make it a more diverse festival. So, you’ll see all kinds of acts and art at the festival. It was a little white and British when it first started. Arts in the Heart is the jewel in the white crown of Augusta.”

That isn’t the end of the Augusta Arts Council’s plans for the community; other

“Artists, religious people, the business community, it’s our turn to help the community thrive once again.”

– Sala Jeter-Allen, a visual artist and former art teacher projects include plans for installations at McBean Community Park and Beacon Station, as well as a temporary sculpture festival (Babrow said increasing the city’s collection of sculptures is a goal of the council going forward) and a continuation of the Art the Box project, based on an invitation for artists to turn local traffic engineering control boxes into canvases as seen on Broad Street.

Yarn installations on trees in the downtown area was one recent project that the council worked on with a group of artists called Hooked on Augusta.

“We worked for months to make sure it was cleared with the city,” Babrow said.

“It was worth all the bureaucratic shenanigans.”

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June 2019 Buzz on Biz

25

PUT YOUR EGGS IN MANY BASKETS

DIVERSIFICATION OF INCOME SOURCES PROTECTS YOUR BUSINESS

By Gary Kauffman I knew things had gone from bad to worse the night I went through a McDonald’s drive-thru at 9 p.m. and had my food delivered by a well-groomed 50-year-old.

That was 10 years ago, when catastrophe struck the area where I lived. A flood, you ask? A tornado or earthquake?

No, the catastrophe was that people quit buying recreational vehicles.

This was at the very beginning of the Great Recession, and the first thing people did was cut out luxury items, like RVs. While this might not seem like a catastrophic event to most people, it was the equivalent of Hurricane Katrina in Elkhart County, Indiana — the vast majority of RVs in this country were manufactured there.

RV manufacturing is such a huge industry there that its fingers reach into all areas of the county. Many small businesses sprung up for the sole purpose of supplying various parts for the industry.

Other businesses started to supply the RV parts suppliers. Many other businesses relied on the income of the RV factory workers to buy their products.

By late 2008, the entire economy of the county collapsed, and the county sported a 30% unemployment rate at one time, although many more essentially became part-time workers. The underemployment rate probably exceeded 50%.

Many of my clients — and the county as a whole — learned the dangers of putting all your eggs in one basket. For several business owners I knew, RV factories made up 75 to 100% of their client list. In the preceding years, when the economy was soaring, they were riding the gravy train.

But by 2009, their shops were collecting cobwebs — and with such a high unemployment rate, they weren’t finding work anywhere else.

Even the fast food joints, usually begging for help, weren’t taking applications because they had hundreds of applications on file — many of them from unemployed 50-year-olds willing to do almost anything.

I fortunately avoided having to submit an application to the Golden Arches.

Even though I only had a few occasional RV clients, my business flatlined because

so many of my clients relied either directly or indirectly on money coming out of the RV industry. I picked up occasional jobs here and there from the few businesses that weren’t affected by the RV

never again tie up more than 25% of his production for any one client.

When you’re in a service industry or a supply business, and you do good work, you may find yourself in a similar posi-

or even 75% of your income vanish overnight.

Some business experts advise having no source supplying more than 10% of your income. Others advise that if you do have one source providing 25%, then diversify the other 75% among 10 or more sources.

The reason is simple — if one company is providing 50% of your income and they leave, you’re left with half your income. If one company supplies 10% of your income and they leave, you still have 90% of your income left, and making up that missing 10% can be fairly simple with a little extra effort.

This means sometimes being in the uncomfortable position of turning down work from a good income source, but that’s still better than someday losing a lot more, including your dignity. Just ask the 50-year-old in the drive-thru window.

Some business experts advise having no source supplying more than 10% of your income. Others advise that if you do have one source providing 25%, then diversify the other 75% among 10 or more sources. The reason is simple — if one company is providing 50% of your income and they leave, you’re left with half your income.

26 Buzz on Biz June 2019

collapse, I tightened my belt and, thanks to having a diversified clientele, managed to make it through.

About a year later, when things had begun to ease a bit and the RV factories slowly began production again, one of those business owners — who had produced 75% of his product for just one RV manufacturer — vowed that he would

tion, where one big business or institution requires more and more from your business. The money is good and easy — almost like receiving a paycheck from that company.

But if that business collapses, changes how it does business or simply decides to go with a cheaper version of what you produce, you could suddenly find 50, 60

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NO NEED FOR HOLLYWOOD

LOCAL FILM PRODUCER KARLTON CLAY FINDS AUGUSTA HAS PLENTY TO OFFER

By Witt Wells As Georgia continues its run as the new Hollywood of the East Coast for film production, filmmakers in Augusta have tried to make their mark on a small but growing film scene. Major productions such as Clint Eastwood’s The Mule made headlines, but aspiring actors and filmmakers have taken advantage of a variety of locations and local talent to pursue projects of their own.

One of those is Karlton Clay, a local filmmaker who founded Victory Productions Network and was named Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch in 2017

by Augusta Magazine. He has been in the business for more than 15 years and has produced 12 web series during that time.

I recently talked to Clay about his work.

What is Victory Productions Network?

“It basically houses the productions that I do. I have 12 web series that I’ve produced. We also have a magazine called VPN Mag. I also host a podcast called Fire Nights. All of that is under the Victory Productions Network. But I started off doing theater. My first production was in 2003. I started doing a web series in 2006. So, I kind of ventured away from theater and got into web series work.”

How did you get started?

“I was diagnosed with cancer March 18, 2002. I was in remission two months later. But I had to still go through three years of chemo treatment, did two weeks of radiation. During that, God gave me inspiration to start my own production company. I always loved to write, but I actually got the inspiration to start Victory Productions from dealing with that sickness.”

How did you go from theater to doing web series?

“I always did theater. I did plays at church and school. The first play I directed was called Speak to my Heart. It was a play that I was a part of when I was 12.

After that, I did my first play that I wrote, it was called Leukemia and Me, which was about my experiences with cancer. After that, it kind of gave me the inspiration to start telling my own stories.

28 Buzz on Biz June 2019

“I don’t have to leave Augusta to make my dreams come true. I can really stay here and create content.”

Karlton Clay is the founder of Victory Productions Network. Photo by Witt Wells

“I went to Georgia State University after I graduated high school. And I wanted to do a web series because we had a college station and it was all-access. I’m a big fan of A Different World and Saved by the Bell: The College Years, stuff about college students. So I wanted to do a show that reflected different things that college students were dealing with. I wrote a script and I went by the office manager’s office and gave them the script and the video.

That was my transition into doing a web series.”

What’s your favorite web series you’ve been working on more recently?

“The one I’ve been working on more recently is BrothAhood. The next season comes out June 19. That’s my favorite web series I produce. The show is about a group of men, and they’re dealing with different issues, different things that are coming at them. You’re seeing how they handle it, and how they deal with their emotions in situations. We don’t see a lot of shows where men are able to be emotionally vulnerable, especially black men.

“When the show first opens, you find out they’re connected some type of way.

And as the show progresses, you see the connection between all of them.

“It’s my favorite because I feel like it’s something I can personally relate to. As we’re growing up, we’re taught, ‘Boys don’t cry,’ ‘tough it out,’ different things like that. So, I was able to tell some of my story a little bit with this show.

“We’re on season three. People are enjoying it, so we’re keeping it going.”

Where do you get inspiration personally?

“I’m an observer. I grew up in church, so a lot of my stories come from a church background. Of course, I put some of my experience dealing with my sickness in there, so that was an inspiration for me as well. And I’m inspired by my family and friends. My friends are the ones dealing with those situations and those conversations, and I draw stories from those as well.”

Who are you working with on BrothAhood?

“We shoot here in Augusta, and we shoot some scenes in Atlanta. So, I’m back and forth with that show. But a lot of the actors on the show are local. The majority of them are people I’ve worked with in the past. I do casting calls, too.”

What shows are you watching right now?

“This is Us, I love that show. I watch Insecure. I just recently finally started watching The Shy. I watch a lot of soap operas, too. The Young and the Restless is my favorite soap opera. That is a big inspiration.

That influences my writing style. Another

Karlton Clay’s web series, BrothAhood, is about a group of men dealing with the events, issues and emotions that connect them. The new season begins June 19.

influence was One Tree Hill, that’s another show that I was heavily into. And then 7th Heaven. My writing is a mix of The Young and the Restless, 7th Heaven and One Tree Hill.”

When did you first decide that filmmaking was something you really wanted to do?

“Like I said, I always loved to write.

That’s my passion, I love doing it. I can do that wherever, whenever. I went to Davidson [Fine Arts Magnet School] here in Augusta, and I got into production actually by accident. I was put into production as an alternate elective. I figured I should be taking the class. I learned how to edit and film while I was at Davidson.

“I think once I got to college and I was having to produce my first web series by myself, that’s when I realized that I Iove producing.”

As an independent filmmaker, what advice would you give people considering a filmmaking career?

“If you’re a writer, always keep writing.

Never allow anything to stop you from doing that.

“With the technology now, you don’t necessarily need a heavy-duty camera.

Honestly, people are making movies on their cellphones. And I feel like until you are able to get to that point, you just use whatever you have to tell your story. I feel like if you wait until the perfect opportunity, you’re never going to be able to tell your story.

“For me, if I had waited until someone said, ‘Yes, I’m going to give you the opportunity,’ or I waited until I got the team together, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. You have to be self-motivated and just say, ‘Hey, I believe in myself.’

“So, try to find the best camera you

can get, and just start putting your work out there. People need to see consistency.

I think that’s what’s lacking sometimes, especially here in Augusta. I think people see somebody else doing something, and they want to do it. And they get out there and do it, and they realize it’s really hard, and then they just give up.

“I feel like if you’re more consistent with what you’re doing, especially in this art form, then more people are going to take you seriously and believe in you – and possibly want to help you.”

What do you see for the future for making films in Augusta?

“I think Augusta definitely has the potential to be one of the great cities in the future of filmmaking. I think we have an opportunity. We have great talent here, we have great locations. It’s going take a true community to come together and really put forth the effort.

“I think the problem is, everyone wants to be in charge. Everybody wants to be able to say, ‘I made Augusta a film community.’ It’s that versus people coming together and saying, ‘Let’s all come together no matter what — race, gender, whatever.’

“We don’t have an equal playing field here in the film community. It’s a little isolated. I think if we really understood the community, what it means to come together and work together, I think Augusta has the potential to either match Atlanta or surpass it.”

Why do you feel like it’s isolated?

“I feel like only certain people know where the money is. Obviously, it takes money to make things happen. It’s not circulated equally. It’s not really being trickled down to the independents.

I think we need a true coming together when it comes to the arts community.”

How do you develop a work-life balance making films?

“I used to work at NBC 26, and then I was news producer at WJBF. It could get challenging to try to do your job and then work on your passion. I ended up leaving WJBF. My contract was up, and they wanted me to renew it, but I said, ‘No, I think I’m going to try to do film full-time.’

“I would work freelance, like independent video stuff. I ended up taking a job with Beasley Broadcasting, something to kind of help supplement stuff like that.

Again, having to balance, but letting people know my first priority is my passion.

It’s learning how to balance things and just really putting in the work to make things happen.”

What has encouraged you most about being in the Georgia filmmaking industry as it’s really taking off?

“What’s encouraging me is that I don’t have to leave home to do what I want to do. When I was growing up, it was ‘You need to move to L.A., you need to move to New York.’ I’ve had the opportunity to travel to both places. I know New York is not the place for me. When it gets cold I’m not trying to be iced in. Definitely not the move for me. L.A. is more of a place I like to visit. The cost of living is crazy, and L.A. traffic is not piece of cake.

“I don’t have to leave Augusta to make my dreams come true. I can really stay here and create content. And it’s given me the opportunity to travel to different cities, different states. I’ve been to Rome, Italy. It’s been an amazing experience.”

Any local resources or organizations here you would suggest to people who are new to the film scene?

“Augusta Community Theater, they are

a pillar in this community. Also, the Augusta Players. I think those are two great resources as far as trying to get into the acting field.

“As far as trying to find actors, I utilize social media a lot. I think the more you do it, the more people see you out there and will want to participate in what you’re doing.”

What else are you doing at Victory Productions Network?

“I wanted to do an arts, entertainment and entrepreneurship magazine, something that highlights things people are doing in the arts and small businesses, different things like that. That was the inspiration behind VPN Magazine. It’s a quarterly magazine. We used to be doing things out of Charlotte. It’s been a great learning experience.”

What about your podcast, Fire Nights?

“I have a co-host and partner named Wayne Bradley. He has his own podcast called More Than the Masters. Fire Nights also falls under that umbrella as well. Basically we talk about different issues that are happening in entertainment and also things happening in the city. We normally have opposite opinions about the subject.

“We’ve had some success; recently we had Darius McCrary, who was Eddie from Family Matters, on the show. It’s been a great experience, just being able to have another platform where I can talk to people.

“My whole goal with everything that I do is I want to be a beacon of light and hope for people who want to get into this industry but don’t necessarily know how to. And also to help people that are not really getting the recognition that I think they should receive.”

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ARTS & LEISURE

Dubbel was delicious in Amsterdam from my travels to the Motherland. I had it on our first night there during a meal at which my mother-in-law and I wisely ordered pea soup. So good. So good.

By Ben Casella Not long ago, I was afforded the opportunity to spend some quality family time in the Netherlands, specifically Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft.

I found out many things on that trip, both about the region and myself.

One aspect of self-realization my mind keeps going back to is the fact that it didn’t take long for me to realize that low 50s and cloudy is pretty much my ideal weather condition.

Maybe it was the fact that I knew I’d be coming back to heat, but I embraced the climate like a champ and let those North European winds beat down on me as much as I could before returning stateside.

I must say I wasn’t hearing good things about Dutch food before visiting, but I enjoyed pretty much everything I ate — even the pickled herring! I mean, seriously, bread, meat and cheese! What’s not to like about those staples?

I have long been saying “Take your favorite food, put it between two slices of bread, and you now have my favorite food.”

Affligem Dubbel

The thick Affligem Dubbel was perfect with soup on a chilly evening in the Netherlands. Photos by Ben Casella

As far as beer is concerned, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, and I purposely did not perform a lot of research before going. I wanted to be aware of what to look for but careful not to prejudge. With that said, I knew I wasn’t going to Belgium or Germany, and I knew I didn’t want any Heineken.

So, here is a beer I have extracted

I enjoyed this beer very much. What I enjoyed about it most was probably just being able to imbibe a Dubbel again.

For some time now, these thicker Belgian-style brews have situated themselves right at the top of my throat, and I’ve had to avoid them. So, of course, I tried one in a foreign country with no Tums in sight.

It was so smooth and not overly yeasty or foamy. It was the perfect beer to go with a heaping bowl of pea soup on a chilly evening. The yeast is there from the nose on, but a smooth mouthfeel, coupled with a hint of sweet, made this beer one I will seek out if I ever find myself in Amsterdam again.

As for you, wherever you find yourself this travel season, find something cool and funky to drink and let me know how it was. Do not, however, just drink what the locals drink, because it’s probably Heineken.

Ben Casella did have a Heineken while in the Netherlands. He just felt as though it was good form to have at least one — like the way people from New England have to try grits when they come down South … What’s that? They don’t? Well then, never mind. Carry on.

In life, people aren’t always who they seem to be

By Samantha Barksdale As a high school teacher, I often find myself explaining to my students that things are not always as they seem.

There are the lovesick and heartbroken who can’t understand why their beloved would walk away from something that seemed so real. There are chameleons, students who change their look, friends and interests every few months.

The most heart-wrenching of all, however, are the ones who come to school every day pretending that all is well when they are dealing with life-ordeath situations at home.

One might like to believe that these charades end after high school, but adults can be just as hard to figure. This month, my reviews are all about deception; things are not always as they appear.

‘Imposters’

I decided this was my new favorite

30 Buzz on Biz June 2019

show in the first five minutes of episode one. The show opens with Ezra. He is sitting on his couch, beer in hand, trash all around him, with an electrical cord noose around his neck.

His suicide attempt was unsuccessful, and now it appears as if the FBI is at his door. Poor Ezra; what could he have possibly done to deserve this?

Unfortunately for Ezra, he was the victim of a group of con artists. Ezra thought he was marrying a lovely woman from Belgium. His six-week marriage to Ava was the stuff dreams were made of, and he cannot believe that she never actually existed. He must come to terms with the fact that his marriage was a sham and his life savings is gone.

If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know I’m a sucker for a crime show. Imposters checks all the boxes of things I love in a series: crime, comedy, plot twists, witty dialogue and just enough romance. I’m hooked, and you will be, too.

‘Santa Clarita Diet’

I’m not sure why, but I have an irrational fear of zombies. As such, I make it a rule to avoid pretty much anything that includes them in the story line. Santa Clarita Diet was a welcome exception to the rule, however.

Drew Barrymore plays Sheila Hammond. Sheila and her husband, Joel, have a pretty average life. They are real estate agents and parents of a teenage daughter. They live in the suburbs, right between two feuding police officers. Things in the Hammond house are pretty run of the mill until the day Sheila gets sick.

Joel and Sheila are in the middle of showing a home when she begins to feel nauseous. Before we know it, she’s vomited, a lot, all over the bedroom floor.

She excuses herself to the bathroom, where her husband finds her, sometime later, seemingly dead. Joel is relieved when Sheila wakes up, and a few hours later they are at home trying to figure

out what happened to her.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Sheila has somehow become a zombie.

Luckily, she’s not the traditional type of zombie. She still knows and loves her family and her life; she just needs a little raw meat to keep the hunger at bay.

Sheila might have joined the ranks of the undead, but the Hammonds aren’t ready to leave their life in the suburbs just yet. So, they decide to keep it all a secret. Seriously, no one needs to know that Sheila eats people.

Santa Clarita Diet may seem a little far-fetched, but the message is strong.

Loving someone means accepting who and what they are.

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.

AT THE TABLE

A taste of Italy awaits diners just across the river delivered, there were smiles and high fives. I guess it was a good call!

Another colleague decided on the DiVino Instead of crossing the Atlantic for a taste of Breakfast, which included a couple of eggs with Italy, just cross the Savannah River.

From downtown Augusta, DiVino Ristorante Italian grilled sausage, pan-seared mushrooms, is just a hop, skip and a jump over the river. The grilled tomatoes, bacon, toast and roasted potaItalian café occupies a cozy corner of Hammonds toes. Although the price seemed steep at $13.50, it provided a hearty meal. The Ferry in North Augusta. On presentation was eye-catching a recent spring day, my two and pleasing to the palate. colleagues and I were warmly Because I relish tomato welcomed to the restaurant. soup, I was excited to spy an After being seated near the authentic variation on the window where we could enRating is based on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best). menu. Listed as Pappa al Pojoy the scenery, we were given modoro, it boasted cherry tomenus with inviting dishes Food matoes, breadcrumbs, basil, that simply sounded delicious shallots and parmesan cheese. rolling off the tongue: Melan- Price It was all I could do not to lick zana alla Parmigiana, Petto the bowl as this scrumptious di Pollo al Limone, and Uova Location soup was delicious. I paced Strapazzate con Bacon to name myself and enjoyed every bite. a few. Patrons could brush up Networking As walkers strolled the on their Italian to impress the Noise Level sunny streets of Hammonds staff.

Ferry, we enjoyed our quiet With a large dining room DiVino Ristorante is located at 465 Railroad plus a bar including additional Ave. in North Augusta. For more information, meal. A couple of customers seating, DiVino has plenty of check out its website at divinonorthaugusta.com ate nearby. A few others made their way to the bar area. A space for a business meeting, or call 803-426-8675. ladies group gathered to celcasual gathering or even office ebrate a birthday. The atmocelebration. It’s a spectacular Saturday brunch spot before a client leaves town. sphere was pleasant and inviting.

Italian music drifted quietly through the speakBilling itself as a unique, modern eatery, DiVino offers a lunch/brunch menu for the weekend plus ers. It was loud enough to set a tone of relaxation but low enough to avoid being a distraction. a dinner menu for Tuesday through Saturday.

On its website, DiVino presents itself as a resOne diner twirled spaghetti with homemade Bolognese sauce. It’s also served with pesto if taurant offering authentic Italian cuisine and a patron prefers. The Insalata Ceasar con Pollo or specialties from Tuscany plus a large selection of Shrimp is a popular salad favorite, as is the Insalata wines, craft cocktails and beers. As they say in Mista di Campo featuring a spring mix with olives, Italy, “Mangiamo!” (Let’s eat!) tomatoes, Parmigiano cheese and extra virgin olive oil. A salad might be a wise choice before hitting Susan O’Keefe has been reviewing resthe tiramisu or cannoli. taurants for Buzz on Biz since August 2015.

Her restaurant visits and reviews are done Even though the aromatic Tuscan scent permewith a businessperson in mind. ated the dining area, one colleague had a burger on his mind. A burger! It felt odd ordering a burger in an authentic Italian restaurant, but so be it. Once

By Susan O’Keefe

DiVino Ristorante

The DiVino Breakfast (above), an egg dish served with Italian sausage, mushrooms and tomatoes is an eye-catching option at DiVino Ristorante, and the Pappa al Pomodoro, or tomato soup, is simply scrumptious. Photos by Susan O’Keefe

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June 2019 Buzz on Biz

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