December 2014 Features

  • Small Business Loans Bounce Back in November

    December 18, 2014

    Big bank lending to small businesses rebounded in November and resumed a positive trend that has lasted much of the year. This latest data from Biz2Credit’s Small Business Lending Index should be good news to any small business owner seeking more capital to expand or diversify their operations.

  • Right Here, Right Now: Piper App Developers Connecting Communities with iBeacon Technology

    December 17, 2014

    Piper CEO Robert Hanczor and COO Wesley Ker-Fox discuss living in the moment with iBeacon technology and how a single app has the capability to connect and engage entire communities.

  • Community Foundation of Chattahoochee Valley Helps People Make a Difference

    December 16, 2014

    Community Foundation of Chattahoochee Valley provides a platform for individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits to give back to their community. The foundation will do the research and identify who is doing the best work in your area of interest.

  • Tis the Season for Strategic Giving

    December 15, 2014

    With the holidays just around the corner many are focused on giving back, especially in Atlanta, the fourth most charitable large metro in the United States. Forty-three percent of wealthy donors said that they make more charitable contributions during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year, according to the recent Bank of America Study on High Net Worth Philanthropy.

  • 7 Ways to Make “Write a Business Plan Month” Work for You

    December 12, 2014

    December is National Write a Business Plan Month! Every business owner needs a plan — whether you’re in startup mode, seeking financing or preparing for another year at the helm of a growing business.

  • HeritageBank to Merge with Mississippi-Based Renasant Corporation

    December 11, 2014

    Renasant Corporation and Heritage Financial Group, Inc. jointly announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Renasant Corporation will acquire, in an all-stock merger, Heritage Financial Group, Inc., a bank holding company headquartered in Albany, Georgia, and the parent of HeritageBank of the South, aGeorgia savings bank.

  • How to Keep Your Business Running During Your Vacation

    December 09, 2014

    The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes vacation time for many entrepreneurs. If you’re on the fence about shutting down your business while you go over the river and through the woods because you’re worried you’ll miss out on sales or opportunities, keep reading.

  • The Secret to Raising Capital is About People, Not Money

    December 09, 2014

    If you’re struggling to raise capital to fund your small business venture, it could be that you’re taking the wrong approach. It’s time to think people, not banks.

  • Regions Bank Georgia President: Going Beyond the Brick and Mortar Branch

    December 08, 2014

    Now that the U.S. has traversed the recession and planted its feet on the banks of a new economic era, the banking industry is strengthening. Leaders within the banking industry are mobilizing to reinvigorate commercial enterprises that make the economy hum. Bill Linginfelter, Area President of Regions Bank for Georgia and South Carolina, says, “We try to take a lot of the financial management tasks off their plates so they can spend more time developing their business or making more products or innovating.”

  • Georgia Chamber Task Force Focused on Growing Film, Digital Industries

    December 05, 2014

    The Georgia Chamber’s Creative and Digital Industries Initiative shared a number of recommendations for updates to the state’s existing entertainment tax credits with the Georgia House Study Committee on Georgia-Based Film and Post Production during its meeting Thursday at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

  • Mediacom Business Launches Real Customer Story Series

    December 03, 2014

    We recently chatted with Kristi Salmon, Mediacom Business’ Marketing Director, to find out what the telecommunications service provider is planning for 2015, especially concerning the hot topic of Google Fiber.

  • Who Do You Tip at the Holidays (and How Much)?

    December 02, 2014

    Tipping service providers during the holidays is a great way to show your appreciation for services throughout the year. Who do you tip at the holidays? And how much do you tip them? What is an appropriate gift or tip for that courier who always delivers your packages, or your hairdresser, or your landscaper?

  • BCBS Georgia President Morgan Kendrick: Blue Cross Blue Shield Starts New Healthcare Discussion

    December 01, 2014

    As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to unfold, insurance providers and businesses, particularly small to medium sized businesses, continue to adjust. Making decisions that best serve both the bottom line and employees requires knowledge and flexibility. Morgan Kendrick, President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa), acknowledges that the ACA is a response to health care costs that had risen to an untenable level.