Buzz On Biz

WRDW 1630AM 12-2PM OR STREAMING LIVE AT WWW.WRDWAM.COM

The boyz are back from the weekend and among others are welcoming in a major downtown developer, the Buzz attorney, the Buzz marketing person, and someone who will get you connected.

12:20pm – NATALIE McCLEOD will join you in the studio to chat about the completion of “THE EMPORIUM”. (1106 Broad Street in Downtown Augusta. There are 9 residential units and about 4,000 square feet of commercial space as well.
12:45pm –  Typically, attorneys charge a hefty fee for their services, our attorney, J. Edward Enoch spends ten great minutes with you each week to help out with human resource issues, contract issues, wills and real estate law. To contact Ed, give him a call at (706) 738-4141

1:20pm – PR and Marketing Consultant Kelly Johnson will be discussing last week’s events and looking forward to this week.

1:30pm – MEGHANN EPPENBROCK – Community Relations Director, SAFE HOMES will talk about February 1^st being “Paint The Town Purple” Day.

www.safehomesofaugusta.org

1:45pm – Knology will help us “Get Connected” with representatives from the business, residential and public relations departments. Each week we’ll learn more about the changing technology in their world. For more information, log on to www.knology.com

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COURTESY: LOCAL MCDONALD’S FRANCHISEES

January 28, 2011. AUGUSTA. Congratulations to Boy Scout Road /I-20 restaurant manager, Miranda Garnett who was named Friday as a recipient of the 2011 Ray Kroc Award at a surprise awards ceremony at her restaurant.

Named after McDonald’s corporate founder Ray Kroc, the award is given to managers who deliver superior results in achieving operational excellence, reinforcing McDonald’s commitment to people, and building the business.

Only 133 managers were chosen this year to receive the Ray Kroc Award, an honor that comes with a cash award, a Ray Kroc award trophy, a pin, and a trip to Chicago for an awards gala to be held this spring. The banquet will be hosted at Chicago’s Marriott Hotel by Don Thompson, president of McDonald’s USA.

Ray Kroc built the McDonald’s business on the belief that greatness can only be achieved through the dedication and support of a company’s people. The award was named after him based on his commitment to people and recognizing their contributions to the organization he helped establish.

“We are proud to pay tribute to the best and brightest managers in our system for the critical role they play in delivering a truly outstanding restaurant experience for our guests and our employees,” Thompson says.

McDonald’s owner/operators David and Janie Cravens nominated restaurant Miranda for the Ray Kroc Award to recognize her hard work, dedication, and commitment to McDonald’s and its customers.

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COURTESY: COLUMBIA COUNTY CVB

ATLANTA (January 28, 2011) —Georgia tourism industry professionals gathered today for the annual Tourism Day at the Capitol event to celebrate the significant role tourism plays in Georgia’s economy. Representatives from the tourism industry presented Governor Deal with a check representing the $816.3 million in state tax revenue generated from tourism-related expenditures in 2009.

“In 2009, tourism generated more than $31.3 billion in total economic impact for the state underscoring the industry’s significance in our state,” said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  “The Georgia tourism industry not only contributed more than $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, but employed 234,000 Georgians during the same time period.”

Columbia County representatives included Ken Shah, member of the CCCVB Board of Directors, Beda Johnson and Shelly Clark of the CCCVB staff, and Lee Ann Meyer from Red Oak Manor.

Governor Deal also unveiled the new 2011 annual Georgia Travel Guide. This full-color, magazine-size guide features Georgia’s own Paula, Jamie and Bobby Deen on the cover photographed at Wormsloe Historic Site in Savannah. The guide provides visitors with information on Georgia’s tourism assets including attractions, accommodations, events, driving trails, and more. The 750,000 guides are distributed through the state’s 11 Visitor Information Centers, www.ExploreGeorgia.org, travel and trade shows and 1-800-VISIT GA. The Georgia Department of Economic Development partnered with Emmis Custom Publishing, (publisher of Atlanta Magazine), on the Georgia Travel Guide.

The U.S. Travel Association’s 2009 Economic Impact Report indicates that tourists spent $19.4 billion in Georgia, with $17.5 billion spent by U.S. travelers and $1.8 billion by international visitors. Georgia ranks eighth in the U.S. for spending by domestic travelers. In 2010, Georgia ranked as the second fastest growing U.S. destination for international travelers, with a 9% increase. Georgia’s Visitor Information Centers served 11 million travelers last year and booked more than 30,000 room nights in Georgia hotels.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.

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courtesy: Boating Industry Magazine

MINNEAPOLIS – As current boaters and prospects gain confidence in exploring purchase decisions, it is increasingly vital that they are directed to trustworthy and professional dealers for boat sales and service. Thanks to Boating Industry magazine’s sixth-annual Top 100 Dealers program, consumers now have access to those best of the best dealers at their fingertips.

This marine dealer ranking has resulted in an incredibly powerful group that collectively generates more than $879 million in annual retail sales – and $1.56 billion, if you include MarineMax Inc. and Galati Yacht Sales, which are members of the Top 100 Dealers Hall of Fame. This makes up 2.9 and 5.1 percent of the overall U.S. boating market, respectively. That market has fallen more than 30 percent annually for the past few years, yet the revenue that the Top 100 Dealers have generated is off an average of just 14.5 percent.

While the numbers this elite group posts are impressive, indeed, the Top 100 is not merely a ranking of the largest, volume-driven dealers. Rather, it recognizes those marine dealers that are unsurpassed in overall business operations, customer service, marketing and professionalism. Collectively, the 2010 Boating Industry Top 100 employ nearly 3,900 people and operate 244 retail locations across North America.

“Whether today’s boaters are finally ready to upgrade their vessel or are maximizing their enjoyment of their current model, Boating Industry’s list of Top 100 Dealers is a much-needed guide to those dealerships that provide their boating community with an industry-leading sales and service experience,” said Matt Gruhn, Editorial Director and Publisher of Boating Industry.

Topping the list at No. 1 for the first time is Prince William Marine Sales, Inc., based in Woodbridge, Va., followed by Austin, Texas-based Sail & Ski Centers, Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Fontana, Wis., Buckeye Marine, based in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, and Russo Marine of Medford, Mass. Nearly 380 people joined Boating Industry to honor the Top 100 Dealers at a black-tie celebration Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

Boating Industry’s editorial team reviewed 224 applications, culled from more than 3,000 nominations. The applications asked both quantitative and qualitative questions regarding all aspects of marine dealer operations.

“As consumers seek out the many benefits of the boating lifestyle, marine dealers need to leverage all of the tools at their disposal to attract them into their businesses,” explained Liz Walz, Editor-In-Chief of Boating Industry magazine. “Six years after its inception, inclusion on Boating Industry’s Top 100 Dealers list delivers real results to leading dealers, allowing them to set themselves apart from their peers.”

Boating Industry bestowed five additional Best In Class awards to dealers ranked at the top of their categories. South Shore Marine (ranked 32), based in Huron, Ohio, was noted as the Most Improved Top 100 Dealer. Receiving a Best In Class Award for Best Succession Plan was Burnaby, B.C.-based dealership M&P Mercury Sales Ltd. (ranked 8). Singleton Marine Group (ranked 12), Dadeville, Ala., took home a Best In Class Award for Best Changes In Response To The Downturn. The Best In Class Award for Best Marketing Strategy went to Parks Marina (ranked 7), Okoboji, Iowa. And George’s Marine & Sports (ranked 19), Ottawa, Ont., received a Best In Class Award for Best Employee Development Strategy.

For the full list of Boating Industry’s 2009 Top 100 Dealers, visit www.boating-industry.com.

The 2010 Top 100 Dealers:

1. Prince William Marine Sales, Inc, Woodbridge, Va.
2. Sail & Ski Centers, Inc., Austin, Texas
3. Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Inc., Fontana, Wis.
4. Buckeye Marine, Bobcaygeon, Ont., Canada
5. Russo Marine, Medford, Mass.
6. Port Harbor Marine, South Portland, Maine
7. Parks Marina, Okoboji, Iowa
8. M&P Mercury Sales Ltd., Burnaby, B.C., Canada
9. Seattle Boat Co., Seattle, Wash.
10. Hall Marine Group, Lake Wylie, S.C.
11. Strong’s Marine, LLC, Mattituck, N.Y.
12. Singleton Marine Group, Dadeville, Ala.
13. Pride Marine Group, Bracebridge, Ont., Canada
14. Woodard Marine Inc., Hydeville, Vt.
15. Russell Marine, Alexander City, Ala.
16. Quality Boats of Clearwater, Inc., Clearwater, Fla.
17. Lake Union Sea Ray, Seattle, Wash.
18. Hampton Watercraft & Marine, Hampton Bays, N.Y.
19. George’s Marine & Sports, Ottawa, Ont., Canada
20. Lynnhaven Marine, Virginia Beach, Va.
21. Action Water Sports, Hudsonville, Mich.
22. Kelly’s Port, Osage Beach, Mo.
23. Vallely Sport & Marine, Bismarck, N.D.
24. Spring Brook Marina, Inc., Seneca, Ill.
25. BMC Boats, Longwood, Fla.
26. Hagadone Marine Group, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
27. The Sportsman, San Benito, Texas
28. Parker Boat Company, Inc., Orlando, Fla.
29. Hayes Marine, Appling, Ga.

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Click here to hear the podcast with Kevin

The owner of the two EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS stops by the radio version of the BUZZ to talk to Bill and John about Valentine’s Day.  Make sure you’re prepared by talking to the folks at Edible Arrangements.  To help with that process, if you would like your Valentine arrangement delivered on either the Friday BEFORE or the day AFTER Valentines, there is NO DELIVERY CHARGE.

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Click here to hear the podcast with Rick Davis

Rick Davis, the owner of GUARDIAN CONSULTING stops by the radio version of the BUZZ to talk to the Bill and John about his business, and his business is teaching people how to use a wide variety of firearms.

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WRDW 1630AM 12-2PM OR STREAMING LIVE AT WWW.WRDWAM.COM

12:20pm – - Jeremy Mace from www.newfiresocialmedia.com joins us for a look at social media in the workplace etc.

12:30pm — JOB SHOP JOB OF DAY

12:45pm – - KEVIN MALDEN – - - EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS will be chatting about his “special” leading up to Vday!  He is going to waive $12.00 delivery charges … for guys who book a fruit order before Vday (in enough time).

www.ediblearrangments.com.

1:20pm – -  - CHEF JEFF FREEHOF will be chatting about a gala in ColCo that he is catering (2nd Annual).  “ColCo Charity Gala” … benefiting the ColCo food pantry and the performing arts endowment fund.  300 + people … Las Vegas style event on Feb 26th.  www.garlicclove.biz

1:30pm –  GERALD JONES DEALER GROUP, “Deal of The Day”

1:45pm – - RICK DAVIS will be in the studio to chat about his new business.  ”Guardian Consulting Group” . He helps people learn how to protect themselves with firearm training.

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Owner Ed Durant is redecorating and expanding his Walton Way business in a few ways:

They just had a facelift of their art gallery showroom and in the upstairs section of their shoppe they are opening a lamp repair business.  He said with “Del’s Lamp and Shades” now closed …. no one really specializes in lamp repair, so he is excited about that!  He said he’s learned that lamps and pictures (prints, portraits etc) really go hand and hand in the interior designing world so, he’s happy to be offering both!

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NEIL’S NOTES: For the first 2,000 respondents, more than 96% said “yes”, I want an outlet mall.  FYI—A year ago, similar people were surveyed and when the question, “What specific shops would you like to see in Columbia County” was asked, “Outlet Mall” was the 4^th highest answer behind Book store, Hobby Lobby, and Costco.

FROM THE COUNTY:

Columbia County has had almost 2,400 responses to this survey so far and asks anyone who has not completed it, to do so before January 31, 2011. We would like replies from Columbia County residents and non-residents for the survey. If you have friends and family who visit you from out of town, please let them know too or send them the link below. Thank you to all of the participants!

The County invites you to complete our outlet mall survey – Thank you! Click here

www.columbiacountyga.org

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