June 2018 Features

  • Hands-Free Law Will Become Effective on July 1st

    June 29, 2018

    House Bill 673, also known as the “Hands-Free Georgia Act,” will become effective on July 1, 2018. The legislation was introduced during the 2018 Legislative Session, passed both the Senate and House and was signed by Governor Nathan Deal on May 2nd.

  • Columbus 2025 Hires New Executive Director

    June 28, 2018

    After a vigorous selection process, the Columbus 2025 Implementation Committee has named Tabetha Getz as the new Executive Director.

  • Hamilton Relay Opens New Relay Center in Columbus

    June 28, 2018

    Hamilton Relay, a division of Hamilton Telecommunications based in Aurora, Nebraska, has opened a new Relay call center in Columbus, Georgia. The new center, which processes captioned telephone calls for individuals who are hard of hearing, began training classes and operations in April.

  • Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger Elected President of GMA

    June 28, 2018

    Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger was elected president of the Georgia Municipal Association during the association’s annual meeting in Savannah on Sunday, June 24th. The city of Auburn has maintained its old southern charm while evolving to attract businesses and provide valued amenities to its residents. Community members, local and state leaders credit much of this redevelopment success to Blechinger.

  • How to Develop A Connected, State-Wide Innovation Ecosystem

    June 27, 2018

    Most entrepreneurs are jacks-of-all-trades who are equipped with the knowledge and abilities to solve business problems as they arise, but there are some obstacles that require a more specialized industry-centric approach. These are the challenges that keep business owners up at night because they don’t have the in-house expertise or resources necessary to develop a solution.

  • Aflac Recognized as One of America's 50 Most Community-Minded Companies

    June 26, 2018

    Aflac announced that Points of Light has named Aflac to its 2018 Civic 50 list. According to their website, Points of Light is the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the communities in which they do business. The award recognizes Aflac as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States.

  • Charlie Harper: Transit Moves Beyond Atlanta

    June 26, 2018

    Last week Governor Nathan Deal assembled state leaders at Georgia’s Capitol for an announcement. The State would be contributing $100 Million toward building Bus Rapid Transit on Georgia 400 through North Fulton County. The money will leverage $184 Million in Federal Funds granted to build express lanes from I-285 to McFarland Road, bringing traffic relief to one of Georgia’s fastest growing and most congested corridors.

  • Georgia Power Named Utility Communicator of the Year by UCI

    June 25, 2018

    Georgia Power has been recognized by Utility Communicators International as Communicator of the Year and took home the Best in Show award among 17 others in the annual Better Communications Competition held June 21st, in Louisville, Kentucky.

  • Georgia Lottery Corp. Celebrates 25th Anniversary

    June 21, 2018

    The Georgia Lottery Corp. marked its 25th anniversary during a ceremony Wednesday at the Georgia State Capitol. Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin was joined by Gov. Nathan Deal to commemorate the occasion, which was a celebration of the Georgia Lottery, Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

  • Georgia Retains AAA Ratings for 21st Consecutive Year

    June 21, 2018

    Gov. Nathan Deal announced Georgia again earned a rating of AAA, with a stable outlook, from each of the three main credit rating agencies — Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. Of the states that issue general obligation bonds, only nine currently meet this standard. These ratings resulted in low interest rates during the sale of state general obligation bonds to fund $1.32 billion for new projects.

  • 2018 Leadership Columbus Class Graduates

    June 20, 2018

    The 2017-2018 Leadership Columbus graduation ceremony was held Tuesday, June 19th, at The Cunningham Center for Leadership Development. This is the 36th class to graduate from Leadership Columbus.

  • Study Indicates Pet Friendly Companies Are More Likely to Attract, Engage and Retain Employees

    June 19, 2018

    A recent study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, reveals that 90 percent of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company's mission; fully engaged with their work; and willing to recommend their employer to others. In contrast, less than 65 percent of employees in non-pet friendly workplaces made the same claims.

  • Georgia Economy Achieves Record Job Creation & Employment in May

    June 15, 2018

    Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia once again set records for employed residents, labor force and jobs for May, continuing a trend from previous months. The state is approaching the 5-million mark for employed residents. At the same time, Georgia posted more than 4.5 million jobs and a labor force of more than 5.1 million.

  • 5 Secrets to Building Great Company Culture You May Not Have Realized

    June 15, 2018

    One thing I’ve learned across all the companies I’ve created is just how vital company culture is. This is especially true when you’re starting a new company and can’t afford to hire experienced veterans who command high salaries. So, how can you put great people in place without spending the fortune you haven’t earned yet? You create such an amazing culture that people want to work for you.

  • MidTown, Inc. Names New Executive Director

    June 13, 2018

    MidTown, Inc. Board President Tripp Wade announced the selection of Julio Portillo to serve as MidTown, Inc.’s third Executive Director.

  • TSYS Announces Acquisition of iMobile3

    June 08, 2018

    TSYS, a leading global payments solutions provider serving issuers, merchants and consumers, announced it has acquired iMobile3, a provider of private-labeled, small business solutions within the payments industry. iMobile3 offers unique and customizable payment solutions including award-winning mobile and tablet point-of-sale products, integrated with value added services.

  • 4 Ways to Master Risk in Your Small Business Without Breaking a Sweat

    June 08, 2018

    Risk is something that few people enjoy. Sure, there are always daredevils who push things too far, but the majority of people are relatively cautious. And while there’s something to be said for protecting yourself, successful entrepreneurs don’t shy away from risk altogether.

  • AG Chris Carr: Frequently Asked Questions When It Comes to Open Records and Open Meetings

    June 07, 2018

  • To Find Your Happy Place, Try Spending That Well-Earned Time Off on Jekyll Island

    June 06, 2018

    If you're hesitant about slipping away from the office for a couple weeks to take your family on that long-awaited summer vacation, relax. Research shows that vacation travel is the one type of travel that has virtually everyone's approval. Nestled on the Atlantic coast between Savannah and Jacksonville, Jekyll Island boasts a rare combination of activities, attractions and natural wonders that capture the imagination, regardless of age or interests.

  • GDEcD Trade Mission to South America Opens New Markets

    June 05, 2018

    Recently, GDEcD International Trade Manager, Alice Carson, has been traveling across South America connecting Georgia businesses with new opportunities in Latin American markets. The mission involved stops in three countries: Colombia, Peru and Chile.

  • Aron Levine, Head of Consumer Banking & Merrill Edge, Offers Insight into Making a Difference in the Community this Year

    June 04, 2018

    Now that we’ve settled into 2018, if you’re anything like me, you’re re-thinking your progress on New Year’s resolutions. For some, this might mean evaluating your philanthropic or community involvement goals for the year. Or, you may be in the research stages of finding the specific causes or organizations you’ll support—either with your time or financial contribution.

  • Natural Gas Industry Touts Resiliency and Price Stability at 8th Annual Clean Energy Roadshow in Columbus

    June 01, 2018

    The 2018 Clean Energy Roadshow; a statewide clean energy summit, with speakers representing natural gas, electric utilities, propane autogas and renewable energy, will kick off the first of its 2018 4-city tour on June 6th at Liberty Utilities in Columbus. New this year, senior executives from the Technology Association of Georgia will present a special “State of the Industry: Technology in Georgia” update on IT and high-tech job growth and projections for the state’s economy. In addition to the summit, the event will also feature an outdoor vehicle display of alternative fuel buses, cars and trucks.

  • Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants Names Terry Smith Director of Business Development

    June 01, 2018

    Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants, Inc. is pleased to announce and welcome Terry Smith as Director of Business Development beginning June 4th. Terry will be responsible for representing and positioning GEC with community organizations and leadership in Macon, Columbus and surrounding regions.