Buzz On Biz

Courtesy: Morris News Service

The brown paper covering the windows indicates the closing of three Food Lion grocery stores in Columbia County, a week before their intended closing date.

In mid-January, the grocery chain’s parent company, Delhaize America, announced the closing of 113 of its underperforming Food Lion stores. Three of those were in Columbia County: 526 N. Belair Road, 3851 Evans to Locks Road and 4087 Old Petersburg Road.

Parking lots were empty, windows were covered and doors were locked Tuesday afternoon at all three locations. Food Lion corporate officials said the stores would all close Feb. 15 at the latest.

About 100 employees were affected by the closures.

The store closings are part of a corporate strategy by Delhaize America to strengthen its U.S. portfolio, which includes shutting down a Tennessee distribution center, eliminating the Food Lion name from Florida, and rebranding other stores into Food Lions in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

Two of the three stores were less than 3 years old. The Evans To Locks Road store opened in October 2009. The Evans Exchange store opened in January 2009.

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Courtesy: Augusta State University

Note:Both fairs are open to ASU students, alumni and members of the community.  Professional attire is required for admittance.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 – K-12 EDUCATOR EXPO will feature ~ 20 K-12 school systems and educational programs recruiting for current and anticipated hiring needs for the next academic year.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 – EMPLOYER EXPO will feature ~ 50 organizations recruiting for part-time, full-time, internship, Co-op, volunteer and seasonal hiring needs. Graduate and professional schools will also attend.

· JOB FAIRS @ ASU’s Christenberry Fieldhouse, 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 11am-2pm each day

· Details of employers participating at www.aug.edu/career_center

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Goley, Director Augusta State University Career Center – jgoley@aug.edu

JULIE GOLEY

Director, Career Center – Augusta State University

Main: 706-737-1604 Fax: 706-731-7097

www.aug.edu/career_center

Mailing Address: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta GA 30904-2200

Office is located behind the main campus in Boykin Wright Hall, 2nd Floor – 1015 Johns Road

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Courtesy: PR Newswire

inVentiv Medical Management, an inVentiv Health company and leading provider of physician-directed, nurse-supported and technology-enabled medical management solutions, announced today the national launch of a series of new solutions that help to prevent the inappropriate and ineffective care often associated with some of the most complex and costly health conditions. With its Accountable Care Solutions™, inVentiv Medical Management provides customers with a dedicated staff of specialty care physicians, nurses and billing experts who use evidence-based standards to evaluate and enhance the delivery of medical care to patients with cancer, cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases.

About Accountable Care Solutions™Accountable Care Solutions™, powered by inVentiv Medical Management, provides customers with a dedicated staff of specialty care physicians, nurses and billing experts who use evidence-based standards to evaluate and enhance the delivery of medical care to patients with some of the most complex and costly health conditions. inVentiv’s suite of Accountable Care Solutions includes:

• Comprehensive Oncology Care Management™ Comprehensive Oncology Care Management provides a clinically accountable solution focused on promoting cost-effective, safe and integrated care management for patients living with cancer. The program offers a unique closed-loop solution that includes: prospective clinical review of physician-ordered treatments for alignment with evidence-based medicine; engagement with patients and caregivers to provide support and education and identify resources that improve care; and ongoing surveillance of claims for appropriate quality and cost of care.

• Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care Management™ Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care Management provides a clinically accountable solution focused on promoting cost-effective, safe and integrated care management for patients affected by cardiovascular disease. The program offers a unique closed-loop solution that includes: prospective review of patient medical status and proposed procedures, determination of medical necessity and pre-negotiation for cost management opportunities; concurrent review during hospitalization to evaluate proposed cardiac interventions; and retrospective review for alignment with medically necessary care and post service negotiation for cost management opportunities.

• Comprehensive Kidney Care Management™ Comprehensive Kidney Care Management provides a clinically accountable solution focused on promoting cost-effective, safe and integrated care management for patients affected by chronic kidney disease. The program offers a unique closed-loop solution that includes: identification of at risk populations; engagement with patients and caregivers to provide support and education and identify resources that improve care; clinical review of patient medical status and ordered treatment for alignment with national guidelines and prescribing standards; and review of claims and ongoing surveillance for appropriate quality and cost of care.

About inVentiv Medical ManagementinVentiv Medical Management (formerly AWAC), an inVentiv Health company,  is a leading national provider of physician-directed, nurse-supported, technology-enabled, medical management solutions to third party administrators, self-funded or fully insured plans, employer groups, managing general underwriters and insurance carriers. With a mission of improving healthcare costs, quality and outcomes, we deliver balanced clinical surveillance and cost intervention that supports payers, providers and patients. inVentiv Medical Management is headquartered in Augusta, Georgia. Please visit www.inVentivMM.com for more information.

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Courtesy:Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce announced that it will hold a mock trial at its Drugs Don’t Work seminar in February. The presentation “Drug Court: Improving Workforce Readiness in the CSRA” will simulate an actual drug court trial and give attendees valuable insight into the legal process.

Featured guest panelists and speakers are:

• James G. Blanchard, Jr. – Superior Court Judge
• Ashley Wright – District Attorney
• Ted Wiggins – Drug Court Coordinator

The event will be held on February 16, 2012, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Augusta Technical College (Jack B. Patrick Auditorium). This event is free for Drugs Don’t Work member companies and is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-Chamber members. Registration is available online at www.augustachamber.net or by calling 706.821.1305.

“Drugs Don’t Work” is a special program sponsored by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce to provide assistance in implementing and maintaining a drug-free workplace program within local companies. Through education, forensic testing, and employee rehabilitation, this program seeks to ensure the employee and employer that their workplace is both safe and productive.

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Dino Dakuras, co-founder of “Dino’s Chicago Express” and “Papa-N- Sons” franchise announced on his Facebook that he is selling his lone remaining restaurant on Washington Road in Evans.

Dakuras has begun a job with a food service company servicing restaurants and he will continue consulting with other restaurants.

He had been handling catering, and overseeing his restaurant with the help of a restaurant manager and the tight economy forced his hand to go in another direction. A close family member is also sick and he wants to free up time to be closer to his immediate family (wife and two children) and his extended family.

Dakuras has three options with the sale of his business, the sale of business and equipment, and the sale of his franchise rights and brand.

The restaurant will remain open and be run by his manager through this year until a buyer is found.

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Starting this Saturday, January 28th  from 9:00 AM to 11 AM, there is a new business networking session that will be held at the Dunkin Donuts on Whiskey Road in Aiken, SC.  This is a FREE network session for business owners, employers, and entrepreneurs to get together and learn about each others businesses, and get referrals from each other as well.  The first meeting will be presented by Sue Pellerin, Independent Associate for LegalShield.  Donuts and refreshments will be provided for everyone.

For more information about the meetings, please contact Sue at 803-640-7491 or email her at s.pellerin1429@gmail.com

www.ihelppeople.info

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Courtesy: Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Columbia County’s own Lady Antebellum is featured on the cover of the state’s 2012 annual Georgia Travel Guide. This full-color, magazine-size guide features the band photographed at Evans Town Center Park in Columbia County. The guide provides visitors with information on Georgia’s tourism assets including trip ideas, attractions, accommodations, events and more. 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 guide also features a Q&A with the band about their favorite spots in Georgia! See the official press release in the next article below.

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Courtesy: The South Carolina Hospitality Association

The South Carolina Hospitality Association is pleased to announce the winners of the prestigious Stars of the Industry awards in various categories of service to the hospitality industry. The award winners that include Employee of the Year, Hotelier of the Year and Restaurateur of the Year, among others exemplify the highest standards of quality and service in the hospitality industry across the state of South Carolina.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Embassy Suites on Monday February 13, 2012 at a luncheon.

Award winners were as follows:

JHM Hotels, Greenville: Hotelier of the Year

David Howard,Neighborhood Dining Group, Charleston: Restaurateur of the Year

Jim EggenMyrtle Beach Seaside Resorts: Hotel Manager of the Year

Gigi Roy,Drunken Jacks Restaurant and Lounge, Murrells: Inlet Restaurant Manager of the Year

Nichole NeumanCourtyard by Marriott, Greenville: Lodging Heart of the House: Employee of the Year

Sterling Chisolm,Charleston Marriott: Restaurant Heart of the House Employee of the Year

Dorothy SwintonCourtyard by Marriott, Charleston: Lodging Front of the House Employee of the Year

Chuck McDonaldSoby’s, Greenville: Restaurant Front of the House Employee of the Year

Michael FlintomQuality Sales and Marketing, St. Matthews: Hospitality Supplier of the Year

JHM Hotels, Greenville: Onetime Special Event

The Kickin’ Chicken, Charleston: Ongoing Special Event

The Willcox, Aiken : Good Earthkeeping

Chuck LauerEmbassy Suites Hotel, North Charleston: Community Service Award

All award winners are members in good standing of the Hospitality Association of South Carolina and were chosen from nominations submitted by industry representatives and selected by a distinguished panel of judges including previous award recipients.

For more information about the Stars of the Industry and to view the award winners, visit www.schospitalitystars.org or call the association office at 803-765-9000.

About the South Carolina Hospitality Association

The South Carolina Hospitality Association is the state’s trade association for the commercial foodservice and lodging industry. With nearly 2,000 member companies located throughout the state of South Carolina, the Hospitality Association works to protect, promote, and educate the hospitality industry. The Association is the state affiliate of both the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Motel Association. The Association has two membership divisions – the South Carolina Hotel & Motel Association and the South Carolina Restaurant Association – that were founded in 1947 and 1951 respectively. Local chapters include the Charleston Restaurant Association, Columbia Hotel and Motel Association, Columbia Restaurant Association, Greater Greenville Chapter of SCHA, Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and the Spartanburg Area Restaurant Association.M Hotels, Greenville

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Courtesy: ClarionSouth, LLC Press Release

Young Artist/Entrepreneur Stephanie Forbes adds more bands at larger venue to make event to benefit Walton Rehab even bigger and better!

The Third Annual Free Art Show Concert: BandArt Project 2012 charitable fundraiser kicks off at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 25th in the auditorium of Freedom Bible Church, 702 North Belair Road in Evans. This year’s event features three bands:

• The Industry (which opened for INCUBUS this past September) will play nine songs;

• The Mood will play five songs; and

Eleventhour (which provided the music for the first two Free Art Show Concerts) will get back together especially for this event and play two songs.  “This concert is all about how music inspires and moves an artist when she is the actual process of creating art,” explains Stephanie. “Attendees will see each artist’s mind flow as his work streams onto canvas while concurrently observing and listening as live music stimulates and guides the artist’s paintbrush. The result is an amazing piece of art being created right before their eyes.”

About the THIRD ANNUAL FREE ART SHOW CONCERT

The three bands will play sixteen songs, with one of fifteen different well-known, accomplished local artists on stage next to the band creating art on canvas as the band delivers four-seven minutes of musical inspiration. Each artist will have to complete an original painting on a 30”-by-40” canvas during the allotted time. “I think first-time attendees will be absolutely amazed to actually see these artists’ work come to life while the band plays,” smiles Stephanie Forbes. “It’s all about how the music moves the artist, and how the art moves you.”

Here’s the list of scheduled artists:

• Leonard “PORKCHOP” Zimmerman (a local arts icon who won Metro Spirit’s “Artist of the Year”; famous for his emotionally-abstract robot paintings)

• Billy S (the artist who paints for the Mellow Mushroom restaurants)

• Andy Bullard

• Rob Forbes (SCAD grad who owns Moving Canvas Media and co-created Stephanie Forbes)

• Jack Lowery (who specializes in abstract creative design)

• Stephanie Forbes* (who will also sing a special selection with The Mood)

• Miles Kilpatrick

• Carrie Brooks (high school art teacher)

• Ruth Pearl

• Jordan Tejeda

• Cathy Tiller

• Lane Peters

• Jay Jacobs

• Jesse Vaughn

• Blaine Prescott

Most Canvases will become Charitable Donations to Walton Rehab.  All non-sponsorship premium canvases created during this evening of art will be donated to the Walton Rehabilitation Heath System’s Fifth Annual Undercover Artists Show, where they will be auctioned off to raise money for Camp TBI.

Camp TBI (To Be Independent) is a weeklong summer camp for children and young adults with traumatic brain injuries.  Last year’s event generated over $2,000 for this cause.

About founder and executive producer Stephanie Forbes

Her pedigree practically pre-ordained Stephanie Forbes for a lifetime of creative pursuits. The 20-year-old artist/entrepreneur is the only child of accomplished graphic designer/art director Lynn Forbes and veteran videographer/filmmaker/ TV producer-director/photographer Rob Forbes. Stephanie, who has already appeared in an award-winning movie (A Rose for the Little Lady) and performed on stage locally, is perhaps best-known by the general public in the CSRA for her role as the older sister who steals her little brother’s banana pudding in a popular, long-running WifeSaver restaurant TV commercial. Stephanie Forbes also claimed a First Place award in the Sidewalk Arts Festival at the world-renowned Savannah College of Art and Design.

This annual concert event was launched as Stephanie’s BandArt Project when she was a senior at Greenbrier High School.   For more info, please visit www.BandArtProject.com

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