Brian and Jennifer Huskey spent the drive between Hilton Head Island and their home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee discussing the “how” and not the “if” of opening a restaurant in Savannah.

The couple wanted to buy the East Bay Street bakery Brian’s childhood friend had turned them onto during their just completed Hilton Head Island vacation in 2006. The Huskeys found b.Matthews “a bit dusty” but otherwise appealing.

Their financing options were less promising. They had one nickel but not two “to rub together.” Yet sensing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they became restaurateurs anyway, borrowing money from Jennifer’s mother and opening up five unsecured lines of credit to buy the business three months after first seeing it.

Today, the Huskeys are the proprietors of five eateries and bars. They own not only the b.Matthews business but also the building in which it’s housed as well as another property that will soon be the new home of Blowin’ Smoke BBQ.

Huskey shared how he and his wife’s burgeoning restaurant empire, known as the Gaslight Group, began so humbly only to explode despite the biggest recession since the 1930s during Wednesday’s Business in Savannah Forum in the Savannah Morning News auditorium, 1375 Chatham Parkway.

The quarterly luncheon was sponsored by Hancock Askew, the HunterMaclean law firm, Abshire Public Relations and Marketing and Business in Savannah.

“Small business is really the engine of our economy,” Savannah Morning News Publisher Michael Traynor told the audience. “It’s impressive what they’ve done in a recession in a tough business where the margins aren’t very big,”

The Huskeys have proved adept at growing their business. They were able to convert their unsecured credit lines into more manageable loans shortly after buying b.Matthews, thanks in part to help from the Small Business Assistance Corp.

From there, they altered the concept for b.Matthews. They secured a liquor license and added a dinner menu and shortly thereafter abandoned the bakery component.

A year later, the Huskeys opened Blowin’ Smoke BBQ on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Two years later, in 2010, they bought Abe’s on Lincoln, located two blocks from b.Matthews. They added two midtown eateries — Blue Turtle Bistro and 5 Spot — in 2011 and 2012.

“And we plan to keep growing because opportunities keep popping up,” Huskey said.

Huskey’s restaurant business acumen stems from his time on the front lines. A restaurant’s staff determines its success, and Huskey believes in “delegating and empowering.” He recalls how motivational being trusted with management duties, such as doing inventory, was while he was still an hourly employee.

“Show a little trust in your employees and they will buy in,” said Huskey, who has spent his entire adult life in the hospitality industry, starting with a college job as a concession worker at University of Tennessee football and basketball games. “You get long-term employees that way.”

Communication is another Huskey philosophy. His managers share sales figures and trends with Gaslight’s 117 employees so “they know where we stand.”

“You want people who understand your vision and what you’re trying to accomplish,” Huskey said.

As for relationships with customers, Huskey admits to a fatal flaw:

“You can’t make everybody happy, but we still try,” Huskey said. “Our goal, I guess, is to make them as happy as possible.”

I have read a couple of recent articles describing individual investors as fleeing the stock market, ostensibly in favor of bonds. No doubt some investors are jittery over the fiscal cliff stuff or the upcoming clash over debt ceiling and spending or maybe even still shaken from the aftershock of the financial crisis.

May I suggest that many have heard all this before? Please understand I am not predicting a market, just sorting through the fog.

In fact the entry and exodus by small investors has spawned the concept of the contrarian view of investing. This is essentially that professional and institutional traders will watch the behavior of the small investor as a class and do exactly the opposite on the premise that the little guy is operating by mob behavior and is always wrong.

That is technically too narrow, but close enough for our purposes.

I took note that financial historian Charles Geisst compares this movement, measured from 2007, similar to the Crash of 1929. I hope he was quoted out of context because the two are apples and oranges. In 1929 only 3 million Americans (2.5 percent of the population) owned stock and they were largely speculators, many of whom got taken for a ride in the manipulation of the markets by a wealthy few. In fact there were just 1,548,000 brokerage accounts at the time.

Largely underrepresented in this current scare is the real change, which took place in 1974 with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. This act allowed retirement investors to create Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) plans among others and provided for mobility of those plans between employers.

At one point in the last decade the percentage of investors in stocks reached 57 percent of working adults. With such massive participation is it any wonder the reallocation from stocks to bonds is measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars?

Rest assured the equities markets are not going away, nor will the natural hysteria tied to personal security for that matter. I think any sound financial manager would tell investors to stay the course, even though the next few months are liable to be sloppy.

I have stated in this column in the past that doomsday pundits know well that they can get people to buy into bad news predictions much faster than good news predictions.

So what about the bond market anyway? Is it safer? Well, on one level, yes. In the event of a default on bonds, which could be triggered by a bankruptcy proceeding or liquidation, the bond investor will be paid out well before the equity investor, for whom there will probably be nothing.

But on the practical side bond prices go up and down, too, normally with changing interest rates. Here we need to focus on the stated rate paid to the bondholder as distinct from the yield to maturity (termination of the bond).

Today, interest rates are at historical lows. If you bought a bond with a 2.5 percent interest rate and rates for similar bonds rose to 5 percent, your bond would have to be discounted in price in your portfolio to yield 5 percent to the maturity of your bond, and your statement from your manager would reflect that lower market value.

Suffice it to say that over the next several years long-life bonds are likely to do worse than they are better as interest rates rise again. In truth, however, many well-structured portfolios have both stocks and bonds.

Of course, you can always take no risk, keep your money under the mattress and earn absolutely no rate of return. That will assure that you will not take a loss of capital, but inflation will erode the purchasing power of that money. So you will lose anyway.

One final thought on an irksome media ploy that itches like a bug bite: Business cycles are not going away. Consider them living, breathing entities that are part of a healthy economic body. We have had 47 contractions (recessions) and expansions (recoveries) of the business cycle since 1796. We will have more. They are normal. They purge weaknesses from the economy and make us stronger and more competitive.

Financial crises we can do without.

Russ Wigh is a professor of business. Email him at rdwigh@bellsouth.net.

The flu bug sidelined Savannah Tire’s executives on Thursday, but the local family-owned business is plenty healthy.

The auto repair chain claimed top honors at the Buy Local Savannah’s annual awards luncheon. Savannah Tire was named the organization’s “business of the year” for its growth, facility expansion and public service.

“Savannah Tire has been growing for 62 years and is still growing,” said Frank Baylor, the company’s corporate sales manager and the fill-in for his ill superiors at the luncheon. “I’m proud to work for them.”

Savannah Tire is a third-generation family business founded by M.J. Kicklighter. The founder’s grandson, Trey Cook, now manages the business.

Savannah Tire experienced 7 percent revenue growth in 2012 and added a ninth repair shop. It donated more than $21,000 to local charities.

Savannah Tire employs 150.

“Over the family’s three generations in business they have served multiple generations of Savannahians,” Baylor said.

Savannah Tire was chosen as the Business of the Year from among four finalists. Runners-up included apartment complex management company Kole Management, cooking oil recyclers Southern Enviro Solutions and specialty foods retailer Edibelles.

Buy Local Savannah also honored its Advocate of the Year — Ruel Joyner of 24e Design Co. The Savannah native is the president of the Savannah Downtown Business Association and formerly a candidate for Savannah City Council.

“He is a retail and political presence whose business is one of the most recognized anchors of downtown business,” said Ray Williams of WRHQ radio, who introduced Joyner.

Joyner is the second generation of his family to own a business on Broughton Street. He is also among the driving forces behind the street’s renaissance over the last 15 years.

“I wanted to build a business in a city with a soul,” Joyner said.

Joyner was selected from a group of finalists that included local event planner Scott West, Savannah Economic Development Authority CEO Trip Tollison and Rene Teran, publisher of the magazine Well Fed.

ABOUT BUY LOCAL SAVANNAH

Thirteen years ago, three Savannah businessmen, Rick Culbreth of Yates-Astro, Remer Lane of Remer Lane Insurance and Martin Sullivan of Sullivan Staffing, got together to fight back against big national companies driving little guys out of business.

They created an association of local retailers who feel strongly about mounting a comprehensive advertising and marketing campaign to encourage Savannah shoppers to buy goods and services from local businesses.

ATLANTA — A key state legislator announced misgivings Wednesday about the completion date of construction to widen the Panama Canal, saying Georgia officials could still finish deepening the Savannah River shipping channel by the time larger freighters begin transiting the canal.

Georgia officials have been in a race with the Panama Canal Authority to complete their projects next year, the centennial of “The Big Ditch” that connects the Pacific Ocean and Asian countries to the Atlantic Ocean. Both groups are behind their original timetables.

The expanded canal will accommodate freighters with twice the size and carrying capacity of current ships.

The Georgia Ports Authority wants to deepen the Savannah River from 42 feet to 47 feet to be able to handle the larger ships. If deepening isn’t completed in time, state and port officials fear shippers will take their business to other East Coast ports.

Work on the river is scheduled to begin in the second half of this year with the finish in mid-2016, assuming Congress appropriates its share of the estimated $625 million project. That would be roughly a year after the wider canal is supposed to open, according to the latest schedule.

State Rep. Jay Roberts, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said a tour for a multistate delegation of legislators he led recently left him optimistic about catching up to the Panamanians.

“I actually think that they’re not going to be on schedule. They want to tell you they are, but behind closed doors, there’s some discussion that they may be running a little behind,” said Roberts, R-Ocilla. “That may help us.”

His comments came as Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz outlined his budget request for the next fiscal year before a joint meeting of the state House and Senate appropriations committees where Roberts is a member.

Foltz didn’t respond.

The Panama Canal Authority issued a statement Wednesday detailing progress in the expansion project. Construction of new locks are 37 percent complete, said Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano.

“We estimate based on the progress that we can begin commercial transits mid-2015,” he said.

Rep. Mike Cheokas, R-Americus, questioned Foltz about the depth of the river.

“If this is a 14-year cycle, do we need to be thinking further down the road?” Cheokas asked.

Foltz said with ships continuing to get bigger, he would have preferred to go beyond the depth the federal government approved for the deepening.

“I wish we were going to 50 feet. I wish we were going to 55 feet. Deeper in our world is better,” he said.

GM named for TV stations

Broadcast veteran Les Vann has been named president and general manager of WJCL-TV and WTGS-TV, parent company LIN TV Corp. announced Thursday.

Vann has nearly 20 years of television station management experience and joins LIN Media after spending five years as vice president and general manager of WKRC-TV and Local 12.2 in Cincinnati. During his tenure, WKRC-TV was a ratings leader, grew market revenue share and outperformed market revenue growth, the announcement said. Vann also managed television stations in Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and New York.

“It is an honor to join one of the most successful and forward-thinking media companies in the country, which has a strong reputation of investing in its products, people and communities,” Vann said. “I am eager to work with the talented team of professionals at WJCL-TV and WTGS-TV in beautiful and historic Savannah and immerse myself into this great community.”

He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Urban League and The Neediest Kids of All, was president of three Parent Teacher Associations in Illinois, coached youth baseball, soccer and basketball and served as commissioner for a youth baseball league.

Scott Blumenthal, LIN Media’s executive vice president television, said Vann has exemplary business credentials and a commitment to localism and service to the community.

Rayonier reports quarterly, annual earnings rise

JACKSONVILLE — Global forest products company Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) Friday reported its fourth quarter net income for 2012 reached $76 million, or 59 cents a share, up from $56 million, or 45 cents a share, a year earlier.

Net income for the full year totaled $279 million in 2012, or $2.17 per share, compared to $276 million, or $2.20 a share, in 2011. Cash provided by operating activities was $446 million for 2012 compared to $432 million for 2011. Full year cash available for distribution was $304 million versus $287 million in 2011.

“Our 2012 results, including a 13 percent increase over last year’s pro forma operating income, reflect the balance and resiliency of our core businesses and our continued focus on operational excellence,” said Paul G. Boynton, chairman, president and CEO.

Rayonier announced Tuesday it will sell its wood product business, headquartered in Baxley, to International Forest Products Limited (Interfor) for $80 million. The business consists of three lumber mills in Baxley, Swainsboro and Eatonton.

What started 15 years ago as a “leap of faith” — the development of a large business park to offer shippers options for warehousing and distribution — has snowballed into a national logistics trend, with ports across the country scrambling to follow suit.

Today, Georgia leads the nation in warehouse and distribution center development, according to the latest figures available from global real estate firm Colliers International.

With 3.4 million square feet of warehouse space under construction as of last October, Georgia nearly doubled Tennessee’s rate of increase, which ranked second at 1.8 million square feet.

Ohio was third at 1.7 million square feet; California and Arizona rounded out the top five with each having 1.5 million square feet of distribution center space under development.

“Bringing more warehouse capacity to Georgia has a domino effect throughout the logistics industry,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz.

“When cargo owners decide to distribute their goods from Georgia, that means more business for Georgia’s deepwater ports, as well as private trucking and rail providers.”

Foltz said the global reach of Georgia’s deepwater ports has been a strong draw for distribution centers such as Target, The Home Depot and Bass Pro Shops.

“Goods that arrive at Georgia’s ports are expedited to domestic markets via extensive rail systems and access to four major interstates, which put 80 percent of the U.S. within a two-day truck drive from Georgia,” Foltz said.

It’s a draw that’s benefiting the entire state.

Georgia’s largest current project is the 1.4 million-square-foot distribution center for Lowe’s Home Improvement in Rome, a $125 million investment that will create 600 jobs.

Carter’s, the largest branded marketer of baby and young children’s apparel in the country, has made Braselton the home of its new multi-channel distribution center. Opening last year, the 1 million-square-foot facility supports the company’s e-commerce, retail and wholesale businesses and provides 250 full-time jobs.

The company invested approximately $50 million in the new center that is expected to create more than 600 full-time jobs in Georgia by 2015.

Closer to home, Matson Logistics is expanding its Port of Savannah distribution operations and in September signed a lease to expand its presence in Building 100 at Interstate Centre in Bryan County. The expansion adds 237,600 square feet to their current 135,000-square-foot facility.

New construction by major importers such as The Home Depot in McDonough and ADT Security Services in Atlanta — as well as the expansion of Electrolux in Atlanta — reflect the statewide impact of Georgia’s ports.

“Atlanta and Savannah may be geographically distant, but they are alike in their profound importance as transportation hubs and economic drivers for the state of Georgia,” said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are the linchpins of our comprehensive and sophisticated logistics system that puts Georgia on the short list for relocating and expanding companies.”

Page Siplon, executive director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics in Savannah, was not surprised by the Colliers ranking.

“Our state is uniquely complete from a logistics point of view, offering nationally top-ranked infrastructure for roads, rail, air and sea,” Siplon said. “The job we have of keeping Georgia logistics on everyone’s mind has never been easier, and the success ‘Team-Georgia’ has had in helping companies locate and expand here is great news for the whole region.”

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, four of the top 10 warehouse providers in North America are headquartered in Georgia, and 90 percent of the top 25 global third-party logistics providers have established operations here.

Companies like UPS, Delta Airlines, SAIA and Manhattan Associates, among others, leverage Georgia’s 4,700 miles of railway, 118,777 miles of public highways, the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, and two deep-water sea ports to maintain competitive advantage and offer cost efficiencies to their customers.

Go to savannahnow.com/exchange for the list of Georgia warehouse/distribution center developments and expansions in 2012.

Jasper meeting postponed

Members of the joint-state board charged with developing plans for a new container port on the Savannah River have canceled a quarterly meeting that was set for Monday in Savannah.

Chairman David Posek and vice chairman Jim Balloun, representing South Carolina and Georgia, respectively, on the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office board, issued the announcement Wednesday.

“After an in-depth review of the current status of the updated economic study for the Jasper Ocean Terminal, we determined that additional information was needed prior to review with the (board),” the statement read. “Thus, January’s meeting will be canceled. We plan to present the updated findings at the next JPO meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Charleston on April 16.”

Plans for the proposed bi-state terminal have been stagnant for nearly two years as South Carolina mounted a campaign of opposition to Georgia Ports Authority’s efforts to deepen the Savannah Harbor.

Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.

SHIPPING SCHEDULE

These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.

Terminal Ship name Arrival

GCT OOCL OAKLAND Today

GCT MAERSK VIRGINIA Today

GCT ZIM MEDITERRANEAN Today

GCT MSC ILONA Today

GCT PRESIDENT JACKSON Today

GCT CSCL NEW YORK Today

GCT HANJIN SAN DIEGO Today

OT HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC Today

GCT EVER DELIGHT Saturday

GCT BUXCLIFF Saturday

GCT CLEMENTINE MAERSK Saturday

GCT CMA CGM AMBER Saturday

GCT KAETHE C. RICKMERS Saturday

GCT ST LOUIS EXPRESS Saturday

OT LIVANITA Saturday

GCT SINGAPORE STAR Sunday

OT SAFMARINE SUMBA Sunday

OT PARSIFAL Sunday

GCT MUKADDES KALKAVAN Monday

GCT CMA CGM L’ETOILE Monday

GCT NYK DIANA Monday

GCT ZIM SHANGHAI Monday

GCT NYK LAURA Monday

Terminal Ship name Arrival

GCT MAERSK DRURY Tuesday

GCT GENOA EXPRESS Tuesday

GCT DRESDEN EXPRESS Tuesday

GCT AKINADA BRIDGE Tuesday

GCT YM PORTLAND Tuesday

GCT MOL PRESTIGE Wednesday

GCT HYUNDAI GLORY Wednesday

GCT RANJAN Wednesday

GCT SEA-LAND MERCURY Wednesday

GCT HANJIN PHILADELPHIA Wednesday OT BBC NILE Wednesday

OT TONSBERG Wednesday

GCT MSC STELLA Thursday

GCT ESSEN EXPRESS Thursday

GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday

GCT ZIM HAIFA Thursday

GCT ZIM QINGDAO Thursday

GCT XIN NAN TONG Thursday

GCT CATHRINE RICKMERS Thursday

GCT MAERSK DANANG Thursday

GEORGIA DEVELOPMENT

Georgia warehouse/distribution center development for calendar year 2012:

New Locations

Tractor Supply — Macon

Lowe’s — Rome

The Home Depot — McDonough

Carter’s — Braselton

The Judge Organization — Garden City

Kenco Logistics — Black Creek

Nordic Cold Storage — Pooler

Gulf States Cold Storage — Garden City

Outdoor Networks — Albany

ADT Security Services — Atlanta

Dukal — Savannah

Expansions

Electrolux — Atlanta

American Textile Co. — Tifton

Academy Sports & Outdoors — Jeffersonville

D & H Distribution — Newnan

Best Buy — Dublin

Matson Logistics — Black Creek

Tumi Luggage — Vidalia

NEW YORK — A sharp drop in Apple’s stock pulled the Nasdaq down with it after the tech giant warned of weaker sales. Other stock-market indexes eked out slight gains.

Apple sank $63.50 to $430.50. With iPhone sales hitting a plateau and no new products to introduce, Apple said sales would likely increase just 7 percent in the current quarter. That’s a let-down for a company that has regularly posted growth rates above 50 percent.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged up 0.01 of a point to 1,494.82. Earlier in the day, the S&P 500 crossed above 1,500 for the first time since December 2007.

The broad gauge of the stock market has already gained 4.8 percent this year and climbed seven days in a row.

One reason for the market’s recent rise is that some of the biggest obstacles have been pushed aside, said Brian Gendreau, a market strategist at Cetera Financial Group. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives agreed to suspend the federal government’s borrowing limit until May 19, allowing the U.S. to keep paying its bills for another four months.

“Politics is off the table for now and Europe seems like it’s stable. So what’s left? It’s earnings. And aside from Apple it seems like pretty good news,” Gendreau said.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 46 points to close at 13,825.33. The Nasdaq fell 23.29 points to 3,130.38. The 12 percent drop in Apple, which makes up 10 percent of the index, was enough to pull the Nasdaq lower.

Even after its recent slump, Apple still ranks as the world’s most valuable company at $423 billion, putting it $7 billion ahead of the runner up, Exxon Mobil.

Heading into this earnings season, many investors wondered whether shrinking sales would start to squeeze Corporate America’s profits. Judging by the results so far, few are struggling.

Of the 134 big companies in the S&P 500 that reported through Thursday morning, 85 have beaten Wall Street’s estimates, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Microsoft fell in after-hours trading after reporting that its earnings slipped 4 percent in the last quarter of 2012. Starbucks, which also reported results after the closing bell, was little changed as its revenue came in slightly below forecasts.

Netflix jumped $43.60 to $146.86, a 42 percent bounce. Analysts had expected rising costs to lead the movie and TV show distributor to post a loss in the last three months of 2012. But Netflix said late Wednesday that it turned a profit with the help of 2 million new subscribers.

The Labor Department reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell last week to the lowest since January 2008. Applications dropped 5,000 to 330,000. The four-week average also hit a five-year low.

The employment report nudged prices for U.S. government bonds down, sending their yields higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note inched up to 1.85 percent from 1.83 percent late Wednesday.

Airline stocks were mostly higher. Despite rising fuel costs, Southwest reported better earnings than analysts had expected, thanks partially to the airline charging $8 more for the average fare. The parent company of United Airlines and Continental took a heavy quarterly loss but announced plans to cut around 600 jobs.

Southwest Airlines rose 9 cents to $11.45. United Continental Holdings gained 54 cents to $25.54.

Among other companies reporting earnings:

— Xerox rose 17 cents to $7.75. Xerox’s net income shrunk over the same period the previous year but it still beat analysts’ estimates by a penny, helped by better revenue from its business services.

— Union Pacific dropped $1.51 to $133.84. The country’s largest railroad company posted weaker revenue than analysts had predicted, a result of falling coal and crop shipments.

Savannah-area employers added 5,000 jobs in 2012, and the growth shows no signs of slowing.

The total number of jobs in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties hit a four-year high in December even as the unemployment rate rose because of a 1,400-person increase in the labor force, according to Georgia Department of Labor statistics.

And with economists projecting gains in three of Savannah’s biggest industries — tourism, manufacturing and professional and business services — and a 20 percent rise in building permits expected to boost construction employment, 2013 looks “promising.”

“Last year was an all right year, and it gave us some momentum to carry us through 2013,” said Armstrong Atlantic State University economist Michael Toma.

Toma projects employment growth between 1.5 percent and 2 percent, up from 0.8 percent in 2012 and 0.3 percent in 2011.

Tourism, manufacturing and construction are the likely gains leader.

Tourism employment hit an all-time high in 2012, peaking at 21,300 jobs in August. Several new hotels under construction downtown have 2013 opening targets. Manufacturing, meanwhile, continued its slow but steady growth. The sector added 400 jobs in 2012 and has grown by 700 positions since the start of 2011.

Local manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Kerry Ingredients and Flavours, K Machine Industrial Services and Gulfstream plan to expand their workforces this year. Barring layoffs elsewhere, manufacturing employment could return to pre-slump levels — the sector is 500 jobs off.

“After years of decline, the growth we’ve had over the past two years indicates that Georgia’s manufacturing base is alive and beginning to thrive again,” Gov. Nathan Deal said in a recent press release. “This is a great step closer to making Georgia the No. 1 place in the country to do business.”

The construction sector could see explosive growth. The industry lost 45 percent of its jobs locally during the recession, and employment has hovered at current levels since September 2011. But homebuilders are already ramping up in anticipation of a busy spring buying season. And several large planned development projects, including two on River Street, will get under way later this year.

Construction’s “forced march” of reinvention is over, Toma said, as evidenced by the rise in building permits. Robert Sumichrast, dean of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, projects the housing market will find “momentum” in 2013.

Local homebuilders also predict greater labor demand in 2013. Many added to their crews with last year’s pickup and are poised to do so again.

“I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t say when, but sooner rather than later,” said Mark Konter, president of the Greater Savannah Homebuilders Association. “As starts ramp up, there will be demand.”

A construction turnaround would help close the still-significant gap in the local job numbers. Employment is still off by more than 5,000 jobs from pre-recession levels. New homes and commercial development typically foreshadow job creation in other sectors, particularly in service industries.

JOB GROWTH

Savannah-area employers have gradually expanded their workforce since the depth of the recession in 2009. A look at the trends in job numbers for several key sectors.

YEAR|Dec. 12|Dec. 11|Dec. 10|Dec. 09|Dec. 08

SECTOR

Manufacturing|14,700|14,300|14,000|14,100|15,100

Prof/Biz services|18,300|17,400|17,600|19,000|17,000

Tourism|20,700|19,600|19,400|19,000|19,900

Government|23,200|23,000|23,100|23,300|23,500

TOTAL|155,600|150,500|152,400|149,600|156,700

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s tourism agency didn’t have to turn to Florida or Massachusetts or even South Carolina’s big cities for help.

The right skills and ideas were all in Bluffton.

When Bluffton-based BFG Communications won an estimated $57 million state contract this month, the marketing firm beat half a dozen competitors from places such as Winchester, Mass., Tallahassee, Fla., and elsewhere in South Carolina.

BFG Communications, which was founded in 1995 and employs more than 250 people, will replace Leslie Advertising, a Greenville firm that had contracted with the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for nearly 30 years, said agency spokesman Marion Edmonds. He said the firm changed its name to bounce — lowercase “b” — and later said it was closing its doors, so the agency had to find a new agency.

The contract, which will span six-and-a-half years, is to promote South Carolina as a top travel destination inside and outside the state.

BFG has national clients that include Warner Brothers Entertainment and Hanes Brands. Its proposal, submitted to state procurement and tourism officials, contained case studies of their work, from Coca-Cola’s effort to promote Buffalo Wild Wings, to Tenet Healthcare Corporation’ Hilton Head Hospital.

The firm’s “Voice of the Community” rebranding campaign, according to BFG proposal materials on file with the state, “helped to further establish (Hilton Head Regional Healthcare) as an important, trusted and active member of the Lowcountry.”

“Our marketing efforts were instrumental in a 10-20 percent increase in patients,” reads the firm’s case study. It said Tenet Health’s stock boomed after BFG launched its campaign.

Firms that submitted proposals included the Zimmerman Agency of Tallhassee, Fla., and FuseIdeas of Winchester, Mass., according to the S.C. Budget & Control Board. Candidates from South Carolina included Erwin Penland of Greenville, Solution Business Partners of Mount Pleasant, Jackson Marketing Group of Greenville, The Brandon Agency of Myrtle Beach and Levelwing of Charleston.

The Savannah Waterfront Association has hired two executives with extensive backgrounds in event planning and organization to head the group in a move described as an effort to bring “exceptional event planning expertise” to festivals and other events on River Street.

Jim Downs, the new executive director, comes from ESPN, where he served as the senior director of events for ESPN Outdoors, planning various fishing tours and ESPN Outdoors events including the Elite Series Professional BASS Fishing Tour, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series and Bassmaster Classic.

Carrie Bligh, the new senior director of operations, was the director of event operations for the Kansas City Royals, where she supervised more than 600 game-day event staff and oversaw game-day operations and security.

“Jim and Carrie will help take the Savannah Waterfront Association to a whole new level of success, exposure and acclaim,” said Wet Willie’s CEO Bill Dickinson, who’s president of the Savannah Waterfront Association. “They have world-class experience and fresh ideas to help our association attract an even wider audience in 2013 and beyond.”

During his time with ESPN, Downs also worked as director of the network’s Great Outdoor Games and won the 2004 Sports Travel Award for Best Professional Multi-Sport/Multi-Discipline Event, in recognition of his leadership at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Madison, Wis.

He formerly served as director of sports and competitions for the ESPN X Games and ESPN Winter X Games, where he developed and executed events for dozens of summer and winter action sport. Over the years, he also worked as the logistics director for U.S. Olympic Festivals in Los Angeles, San Antonio and St. Louis and as the operations coordinator for the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Jim brings a wealth of world-class experience to Savannah,” said Joseph Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. “I’m confident that he will be a real asset to our tourism leadership team and that he will serve as a valuable resource as the future of Savannah’s riverfront experience continues to evolve.”

In Bligh’s role with the Royals, she served as the security and stadium events coordinator in 2012 when Kansas City hosted the 83rd annual major league baseball all-star game. She also has been the director of service and development at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix and director of account experience for the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team.

“We’re excited to work with Jim and Carrie to help make River Street a must-see destination for travelers from across the United States and around the world,” said Michael T. Owens, president and CEO of the Tourism Leadership Council.

“They have the experience, the ideas and the expertise to maximize River Street’s potential.”

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION

The Savannah Waterfront Association is a nonprofit organization responsible for promoting, preserving and enhancing festivals and events for the public in the River Street area.

For more information, go to riverstreetsavannah.com or call 912-234-0295.

I just returned from an economist’s dreamland. It is country, where unpopular policies advocated by economists in the name of efficiency are implemented by politicians, who then get re-elected. That place is also a major trading partner for the Port of Savannah, according to “World Port Source” (statistics for 2010 can be found here: http://bit.ly/W7Px3Q).

Singapore has been captivating traders, tourists, political scientists and economists for a long time. As put succinctly by George Mason University economist Brian Caplan a few years ago: “The case of Singapore is a fascinating challenge to time-tested models of how democracy works” (the full article titled: “Singapore’s Political Economy: Two Paradoxes” is available at http://sg.sg/VcaOGL).

Or as Bentley University economist Scott Sumner describes it (here: http://bit.ly/UPJixl): “Sounds like the sort of place a free market economist would like, doesn’t it? But it isn’t. My guide told me that when western academics come to Singapore, the leftists tend to love the place, and the libertarians often go home in disgust.”

Sumner also cites critics calling the approach in Singapore heavy-handed.

The reason for this reaction is that Singapore has been following an uncompromising path of what could be called “economic paternalism” (“maternalism” would work, too) in the pursuit of economic efficiency. That includes incredibly high taxes on cars, as well as steep rush-hour tolls on roads to cut down on congestion among numerous other examples of regulation.

As I was told by my guide in Singapore, people take out large loans to pay for the certificate of entitlement needed to own a car. The most recent “bidding prices” for those entitlements are listed online (http://sg.sg/UTjtj8) and reached the equivalent of almost $74,000 (US) for relatively small cars.

A lighthearted economics book (yes, they do exist), just published by the Civil Service College, describes in detail how policymakers in Singapore use new insights from behavioral economics to “nudge” (to use a currently popular term) people into behaving a certain way by taking account of cultural settings and norms.

The book — titled “Behavioural Economics and Policy Design: Examples from Singapore” (http://bit.ly/VcgNLE) — abounds with stories and engaging cartoons describing how this system works. One chapter, contributed by economists Charmaine Tan and Donald Low, suggests that “policymakers ought to think about how norms might work in tandem or at cross purposes with economic incentives.”

This should be noteworthy to all of us because there have already been policy changes in the U.S. that attempt to use similar nudges to get people to behave in “their own interest,” for example when it comes to saving. Well known is the strategy of having people “opt-out” rather than “opt-in” when it comes to retirement fund contributions. The resulting increases in participation rates are nothing short of incredible.

If only voters could use similar methods to get their politicians to implement more coherent and efficient economic policies.

In the conclusion to her chapter, Charmaine Tan writes: “The use of market-based instruments and price incentives by governments to achieve policy goals is a reflection of a sound, rational approach to governance.”

A world in which there is a “rational approach to governance.” Call me crazy, but that sounds like a panacea at least for the economist writing this column.

If one works hard enough at it, it seems, “Dreams come true.”

Dr. Michael Reksulak teaches economics and public finance in Georgia Southern University’s College of Business Administration. He may be reached by email at mreksula@georgiasouthern.edu.

Goodwill of the Coastal Empire Inc. has opened a new store at 108 W. Broughton St.

A ribbon cutting for the new store was held Thursday, and the store is open to the public.

“We hope to provide downtown shoppers with a new experience,” said Coni Curtas, Goodwill’s vice president of donated goods. “The Broughton Street Goodwill retail store will have a new look, and new location, but same good prices.”

Goodwill of the Coastal Empire serves 33 counties in Georgia and South Carolina and operates 14 retail locations in the region along with an online store at shopgoodwill.com.

The nonprofit accepts tax-deductible clothing, household items, computers and car donations. For more information, go to www.goodwillsavannah.org.

N.C. bank sold to Bank of the Ozarks

Bank of the Ozarks Inc. (NASDAQ: OZRK), which operates a branch in Savannah, announced Friday it will buy the First National Bank of Shelby in Shelby, N.C.

Little Rock-based Bank of the Ozarks will acquire all of First National Bank’s outstanding common stock in a transaction valued at about $67.8 million, including $64 million for the common stock and about $3.8 million for real estate.

First National Bank, which opened in Shelby in 1874, operates 14 North Carolina offices in a four-county area west of Charlotte and, as of Dec. 31, had about $857 million of total assets.

“Bank of the Ozarks has been operating in nearby Charlotte for over a decade, giving us good insight into the market. We are pleased to expand our service area to these additional communities,” said George Gleason, chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of the Ozarks.

Bank of the Ozarks entered the Savannah market in July 2010 with its acquisition of Woodlands Bank, a failed institution based in Bluffton, and has a branch in the Stephenson Executive Center at the corner of Stephenson Avenue and Habersham Street.

Memorial cancer program accredited

The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center has been granted a three-year accreditation with commendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

The accreditation followed an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor who examined the cancer institute’s leadership, data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement programs.

The commission on cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.

More information can be found at www.facs.org/cancer.

Annual tourism dinner scheduled

The Savannah Tourism Leadership Council will hold its 15th annual tourism awards and scholarship dinner on Feb. 21 in the Harborside Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, 2 E. Bay St., with the theme “I am tourism.”

The event is designed to honor the 22,000 people who work in tourism in the greater Savannah area, and the organization is inviting people to send photos of themselves and their co-workers to be featured at the dinner. Send the pictures to tlc@tourismleadershipcouncil.com by Jan. 31.

The TLC also wants nominations of outstanding tourism workers with nominating forms on www.tourismleadershipcouncil.com. They’re due by Jan. 31.

Cocktails will start at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55. For more information, call 912-232-1223.

NEW YORK — Exxon has once again surpassed Apple as the world's most valuable company after the iPhone and iPad maker saw its stock price falter.

Apple Inc.'s stock has been on the decline since the company's quarterly earnings report Wednesday suggested that its fast growth phase, rare for a company of its size, may be coming to an end.

Apple's stock fell 2.4 percent to close Friday at $439.88 for a market capitalization of $413 billion. That followed a 12 percent drop on Thursday, the biggest one-day percentage drop for the company since 2008.

Exxon Mobil Corp. gained 38 cents Friday to $91.73 for a market capitalization of $418 billion.

Apple first surpassed Exxon in the summer of 2011, displacing the oil company from a perch it had held since 2005. The two companies traded places through that fall, until Apple surpassed Exxon for good in early 2012 — at least until Friday.

China's largest oil company, PetroChina, could lay claim to having hit a market capitalization even higher than either Exxon's or Apple's, but only based on prices on the Shanghai stock exchange, which is isolated from the rest of the financial world because of Chinese laws on foreign investment. PetroChina's shares also trade in Hong Kong and on the New York Stock Exchange. Based on prices there, its market capitalization never went as high as $500 billion.

Apple and Exxon are among only a half dozen U.S. companies to have ever reached $500 billion in market value. Apple and Microsoft Corp. are the only ones to have ever hit $600 billion.

Apple's stock price peaked in September at $705.07 on the day the iPhone 5 was released. Exxon, in the meantime, has been trading steady. Its business — oil — seems less prone to stock market ups and downs than the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech darling.

Exxon, which is based in Irving, Texas, set a record in 2008 for the highest quarterly earnings by any company. In the first nine months of 2012, Exxon earned nearly $35 billion, or 10 percent more than the same period in 2011, on revenue of $367 billion. Results for the fourth quarter are due Feb. 1.

Exxon, the biggest investor-owned energy company in the world, predicted in December that oil will continue to be the most important source of energy. That's because cars, trucks, airplanes, trains and ships will still depend heavily on oil-derived fuels such as gasoline and diesel.

This year, investors seem unforgiving with Apple, looking for perfection and punishing the stock for anything less. The company's stock price slipped below $500 for the first time last week, as investors saw signs that the iPhone 5 was falling behind competition from phones running Google's Android software, especially those from Samsung Electronics Co.

The latest quarterly report added to the concerns. Apple warned that its revenue growth, which had been running at a speed more reminiscent of promising startups than multi-national corporations, is slowing down considerably.

A big reason: It has been nearly three years since a new product has come from a company still seen as the embodiment of innovation. That last product, the iPad, came in 2010, when its CEO Steve Jobs was still alive. Some analysts question whether Apple can keep growing by just releasing new versions of its old products. The long-rumored Apple TV, is still just that, a rumor.

Savannah Coffee Roasters' promised return to the local café scene is nearing fulfillment.

Company CEO Lori Collins is purchasing the former Huskey Auto Parts store and warehouse on Liberty Street. Renovations on the 8,500-square-foot space will begin in coming weeks.

Collins has targeted a spring opening for a café, retail store and coffee roasting facility.

“This is what I wanted all along,” said Collins, who purchased the business from its founder, Hayden Banks, in December 2011. “People love our coffee once they taste it. We need to be able to brew on site.”

Collins has been operating Savannah Coffee Roasters as a wholesale business, operating out of a small roasting plant off Islands Expressway. Yet many of her customers remember the company’s two retail locations — one on Congress Street downtown and the other in Oglethorpe Mall — that Banks closed a decade ago.

Collins announced her intentions to reopen a storefront last summer. She eyed several locations, including one on East Bay Street, before settling on the Liberty Street building, which has been vacant since 2006. The site, located across Liberty from the Savannah Civic Center parking lot, is highly visible and includes parking for 14 cars.

She envisions attracting business from neighborhood residents, tourists and Savannah College of Art and Design students. The store is within sight of SCAD’s Oglethorpe House residence hall.

Transforming the former auto parts warehouse will require a “significant investment,” even as Collins plans few renovations beyond replacing the roof, installing central air conditioning and performing cosmetic improvements. She likes the space’s warehouse-like feel, complete with concrete floors, and the skylights that provide natural lighting in a part of the building that will house a dining area.

Collins is a chef and will bake breads and pastries and also offer a light lunch.

Savannah Coffee Roasters won’t be the only business in the building. Collins plans to lease 3,500 square feet to a “compatible business” and has been in contact with potential tenants.

The two businesses and a new apartment complex planned for a neighboring parcel will revitalize what local commercial real estate agent Jim Bryant deemed a “blighted” pocket of the historic district.

“That building has been sitting empty for too long,” said Bryant, who’s with Sperry Van Ness, the listing agent for the property. “We’ve had many things planned for there and haven’t been able to get them done. This will be good for that neighborhood.”

The building was once scheduled for demolition to make way for a five-story condominium complex, but the economic downturn led the developer to scrap those plans. The property owners also bid the site for the U.S. Attorney’s office but failed to secure a necessary height variance from the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. The U.S. Attorneys ultimately ended up in the new Cay Building on Ellis Square.

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber restaurant week

More than 50 member restaurants will offer special prix-fixe multi-course menus for Lowcountry diners, Jan. 26-Feb. 2.

Date: Jan. 26-Feb. 2

For more information go to hiltonheadchamber.org.

International Paper to Host Foundation Workshop

International Paper’s Savannah Mill will host an IP Foundation workshop on Monday, Jan. 28.

Date: Jan. 28

Time: 10-11 a.m.

Location: Conference room of the Mary Calder Golf Course.

All nonprofits interested in applying to the foundation are encouraged to attend. For questions or to RSVP, contact Karen Bogans at 912-238-7347 or karen.bogans@ipaper.com.

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber young professionals group

The popular networking group for the 40-and-under set is an opportunity to meet with business colleagues in a casual setting.

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 30

Time: 5:30-7 p.m.

Location: Corks Wine Bar, Bluffton

To register, go to hiltonheadchamber.org.

Tourism council schedules awards dinner

The Tourism Leadership Council wil1 hold its fifth annual tourism awards and scholarship dinner Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. The cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the awards program from 7-9 p.m.

Date: Jan. 21

Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

Location: The Hyatt Regency Savannah, 2 W. Bay St.

For more information, call 912-232-1223 or email tlc@tourismleadershipcouncil.com.

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber Ball

Enjoy fine dining, dancing and entertainment at the annual event honoring the outstanding individuals and organizations that make a difference in the community.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 2

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

For more information go to hiltonheadchamber.org or call Connie Killmar at 843-785-3673.

Savannah-Hilton Head CSCMP Roundtable ‘Lunch & Learn’

Larry Ferrere, executive vice president at LogFire, will share perspectives and advice from more than 30 years of supply chain and warehouse/logistics software/technology and services expertise.

Date: Feb. 12

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Location: Crosswinds Golf Club, 232 James B. Blackburn Drive

CSCMP Members with pre-registration: $25; Non-Members and at the door: $30; Students: $15; Sponsors: $100 (includes two attendees and permission to bring a banner and handouts. Register online at www.cscmp.org/sava/event/using-cloud-computing-supply-chain.

Savannah Downtown Business Association annual meeting

Rob Gibson, executive director of the Savannah Music Festival, will be the speaker during the annual luncheon meeting of the Savannah Downtown Business Association.

Date: Feb. 13

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Location: The Pirates’ House, 20 E. Broad St.

The price is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Reservations required by Friday, Feb. 8, for discounted rates. All reservations must be made via the website at www.SavannahDBA.com.

ACA Business Forum

The Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum on how the Affordable Care Act will affect small business owners and their employees.

Date: Feb. 28

Time: 8-10 a.m.

Cost: Free for members and $15 for all others.

Location: Richmond Hill City Center

A continental breakfast will be served and reservations are required. Call 912-756-3444 or e-mail info@RHBCchamber.org.

Seminar series for small business owners

Hancock Askew & Co., LLP is pleased to announce a new seminar series for small business owners. Neville Stein, CPA and partner at Hancock Askew will present a bi-monthly seminar throughout 2013.

Dates: March 21, 2013- How to read an Income Statement

May 9, 2013- Income Statement vs. Cash Flow Statement-what and why the difference?

July 11, 2013- Strange world of Debits and Credits - in an hour!

Time: 12-1 p.m.

Location: Hancock Askew & Co., LLP, 100 Riverview Drive, Savannah, GA 31404

Tee Up for Habitat

Habitat for Humanity of Savannah’s 11th golf tournament will be held at the Savannah Quarters Country Club in Savannah on April 8.

Date: April 18

Location: Savannah Quarters Country Club

For more information, please contact Michelle Hunter at 912-353-8122 or hunter@habitatsavannah.org.

ONGOING

Pooler Business Network

When: Every first and third Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Western Sizzlin, U.S. 80 in Pooler

Information: RSVP to Jason Torres at jasonjtorres@gmail.com.

Downtown Business Professionals Chapter
of BNI

When: 11:30 a.m. every Thursday

Where: Hilton Savannah DeSoto, 15 East Liberty St.

Information: For information, call Kevin Brown at 912-447-1885 or email rkbrowndc@msn.com.

The Islands Chapter —
BNI group

When: Each Thursday at 8 a.m.

Where: Johnny Harris banquet facility, 1652 East Victory Drive

Information: Contact Kathy Salter at studio@dalyandsalterphoto.com.

Savannah Women’s
Business Network

When: Every second and fourth Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch.

Where: The Exchange Tavern on Waters Avenue

Cost: Cost for lunch

Information: RSVP to Kari Brown at kcbrown@colonybank.com.

Historic Savannah
Chapter ABWA

When: 6-7:50 p.m. second Thursday.

Where: Candler Heart & Lung Building, room 2.

Cost: Free

Information: Call 912-925-4980 or email blynneroberts@yahoo.com.

Toastmasters Club

When: Noon each Tuesday

Where: Savannah Mall across from “ Hill of Beans” Coffee Shop.

Information: Call 912-844-9139 or go to www.sbcsouthsidetm.com.

HIRES/PROMOTIONS

BRIAN PURTELL

New job title: Chief financial officer

Company: Kole Management

Duties: Purtell’s duties include directing the accounting department, managing employee benefits, strategic business planning, cash and investment management, working with lenders on existing and potential loans, property acquisition analysis and the design and implementation of new procedures and policies.

Related work experience: Vice president, Colony Bank.

Education: Purtell is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting.

BRIANNE CHADZIUTKO

New job title: Senior team leader

Company: Page International

Duties: In this new position, Chadziutko will offer guidance, structure and leadership to her new and expanded team.

Related work experience: Chadziutko has been employed by Page International since May 2010, starting in the Ocean Export Documentation Department and has served in the Ocean Export Bookings & Traffic Department.

Education: Chadziutko graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

MATT DOWLING

New job title: Project manager

Company: The Pinyan Co.

Duties: Dowling is responsible for estimating, scheduling, project management, quality control and on-site supervision.

Related work experience: Dowling has 15 years experience in construction with projects including the Savannah State Student Housing Facilities, Windward Commons at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Woodruff Arts Center and High Museum Expansion, Recreation Activity Center at Georgia Southern University and Georgia Southern University’s Centennial Place student housing.

Education: Dowling holds a Bachelor of Science in construction from Georgia Southern University and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

HAROLD SWAILES

New job title: Superintendent

Company: The Pinyan Co.

Duties: Swailes is responsible for monitoring field construction operations and productivity. His duties include coordination of all subcontracting field construction activities and project schedule review of on-site construction.

Related work experience: Swailes has 26 years of experience in construction with projects including the Jepson Center for the Arts, Savannah Christian Gymnasium and the University of Georgia Marine Institute Dormitories and Learning Center.

JESSICA THOMAS

New job title: Director of marketing and public relations

Company: The Pinyan Co.

Duties: Thomas is responsible for all facets of marketing and public relations and will assist with other projects as needed.

Related work experience: Thomas spent five years in health care marketing and public relations in Florida and California. Recently, she worked as senior community manager for the American Cancer Society in Savannah.

Education: Thomas holds an MBA in management and a BBA in marketing from Stetson University in DeLand, Fla.

DANNY WILSON

New job title: Director, supplier performance and development

Company: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

Duties: Wilson is responsible for enhancing supplier delivery and quality.

Related work experience: Wilson was a senior manager of supply chain surveillance at Gulfstream. He also has worked as a senior buyer, a subcontract administrator, a purchasing and materials project manager and a procurement supervisor.

Education: Wilson has a master of business administration degree from Mercer University and a bachelor of business administration degree in management from North Georgia College.

BRIAN WAHLIN

New job title: Assets protection group leader

Company: Target — T3810

Duties: Wahlin will lead the assets protection team to help provide a safe and secure working environment for team members.

Related work experience: Wahlin has 20 years experience as a sergeant/police officer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Education: Wahlin holds a master of business administration and a bachelor of criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix.

LES VANN

New job title: President and general manager of WJCL-TV and WTGS-TV

Company: LIN TV Corp.

Related work experience: Vann has more than 20 years experience and joins LIN Media after having spent the last five years as the vice president and general manager of WKRC-TV and Local 12.2 in Cincinnati. Prior to that role, he managed television stations in Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and New York.

Education: Vann received his Bachelor of Science in mass communication from Illinois State University and attended the Broadcasters Executive Training program at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

HONORS/AWARDS

Savannah Tech employee honored

The American Institute of Architects Savannah Chapter selected Stephen Hartley, who heads Savannah Technical College’s Historic Preservation Department, for its 2012 Artisan Award. Hartley was selected for his dedication to the art of practicing and teaching historic preservation in Savannah and the Lowcountry.

Local leukemia and lymphoma group names committee

The Savannah Office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Georgia Chapter has announced its executive committee for the 2013 St. Joseph’s/Candler Leukemia Cup Regatta weekend of events:

Craig Meyer, chairman; Peter Thacher, vice chairman and clay chairman; Rusty Hightower, regatta; Matt Stroud, golf; Tom Philbrick, Run for Jane; Jeremy Detwiler, tennis; Bill Lynch, Yacht Hop; Henry Minis, live auction; Lori Lynah and Lissa Alverez, silent auction; Sue Reese, auction logistics; Cindy Meyer, Spirit of the Sea dinner; Mike Smith, in-shore fishing tournament; Schley Knight, fundraising; Menzanna Blakley, marketing/publicity.

Bethesda Academy president honored

The Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program honored Bethesda Academy president David Tribble with the organization’s GOAL Head of School Award at the GOALTenders Conference at Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw on Jan. 10. The award recognizes the headmaster who most effectively built a “culture of GOAL” at his school in 2012.

NLaws Produce names driver of the month

Mike Winters has been named NLaws Produce Driver of the Month. Winters has been employed with NLaws for six years.

Savannah man honored by church

George N. Donkar, financial committee chairman of the Parish Council of St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, received the Greek Orthodox Christian Church’s highest honor, Archon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, on Oct. 21 in ceremonies at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City.

Park Place Outreach board of directors

Youth Emergency Shelter, a temporary shelter and outreach service that serves youth from Savannah and the surrounding area, has announced its board of directors for the 2013 term.

New members include Elizabeth Flaherty, attorney, retired; Lisa McCain, REALTOR®, ERA Southeast Coastal Real Estate; and Jim Hazel, Dow Chemical, retired.

Hero award goes to Willingway chief

Jimmy Mooney, chairman of Willingway Hospital, has received the Georgia Hospital Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Hospital Association.

Mooney, the only individual statewide to receive the award, was recognized during the association’s Hospital Heroes Awards luncheon Dec. 4 in Atlanta. He was honored for his work in helping alcoholics and addicts find sobriety.

Being a small business owner is never easy. But these days, tax changes and new regulations make it even more difficult to stay ahead of the game.

One tool many entrepreneurs have turned to is QuickBooks, the bookkeeping software from Intuit designed specifically for small business.

Among the software’s many features are options for creating customized invoices with company logos, tracking sales and expenses and managing customer, vendor and employee data. It also offers opportunities for managing bills and online banking.

Small businesses can use QuickBooks Pro or QuickBooks Premier as a data hub for storing their vital details, including customer information, inventory specifics and income and expense reports.

The software can also help busy business owners make sure they are complying with new IRS regulations.

For example, the IRS is increasingly focusing on 1099s — the form used to report various types of income other than the wages, salaries and tips reported on form W-2. But many small businesses don’t have the ability to track which vendors they have paid an amount that requires filing. With a QuickBooks system in place, that information is readily available at the end of the year.

The software can also help with payroll, according to Ann Carroll, director of business development and marketing for the Savannah accounting firm Hancock Askew & Co.

“This is especially helpful with the expiration of the payroll tax holiday,” she said. “In fact, if you were already a QuickBooks payroll user, it would have automatically made these changes for you.”

In this economy, many people are starting small businesses on the side, Carroll said.

“They are finding that QuickBooks is a low-cost, user-friendly way to track transactions and perform other essential business functions.”

With that in mind, the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com will sponsor a call-in session on QuickBooks from 9:30-11 a.m. on Wednesday. Four small-business specialists from Hancock Askew will be available to answer your specific questions about the popular software program.

Among the questions our experts anticipate:

• It’s the beginning of the year and I’ve never had a bookkeeping system before, where and how do I start?

• My QuickBooks system is a mess and I’m not getting anything out of it. Should I clean it up or start over?

• Can I (and should I) keep my inventory on QuickBooks?

• Can I keep my Accounts Receivable on QuickBooks?

• How do I customize a report?

Experience has shown them that there is tremendous interest in using QuickBooks, Carroll said.

“We’ve held a four-week series of free QuickBooks classes in October and November for the past four years in our Savannah office,” she said. “Each year, we’ve had to open a second date to accommodate the overwhelming response.

“QuickBooks has very quickly become the industry standard because it is easy to use. Some business owners just use the basics, tracking money as it flows in and out of their businesses, while other owners delve into the more sophisticated features that help them run their business. It works well in either scenario.

“This call–in day is the perfect opportunity for those who attended a previous QuickBooks session but have had questions come up since, or for those who have a specific question and need a quick answer.”

John Swanner agreed.

“QuickBooks is the first step for entrepreneurs to get a handle on their business,” said Swanner, a QuickBooks Pro advisor who will be available for the call-in.

“It’s a bookkeeping system, but it can be so much more,” he said. “I enjoy helping people realize the full potential of QuickBooks.

“There is a wealth of valuable information they can glean from this software to help their bottom line. I am hoping that we get some questions during the call-in that will allow me to open that door for business owners.”

Neville Stein, a Hancock Askew partner who also will be available to take questions, said his firm has tailored QuickBooks for micro businesses, small start-up businesses, emerging businesses and established small businesses in just about every business type from churches to retail, nonprofits to manufacturers.

“We are looking forward to Wednesday and hope to answer questions that small and emerging businesses may have on any subject, even those unrelated to QuickBooks,” he said.

THE EXPERTS

NEVILLE STEIN, CPA: Partner

Neville specializes in tax preparation and business consulting and planning. He has worked with QuickBooks for more than 20 years, teaching the software to hundreds of users in class environments and small groups.

JOHN D. SWANNER, CPA: Senior Tax Manager

A QuickBooks consultant and trainer, John has been serving clients for more than 16 years in the areas of tax, small business and management services. He works with individuals, corporations and partnerships in a variety of industries.

TREY BROOKS, CPA: Senior Accountant

Trey joined Hancock Askew four years ago. His areas of specialization include governmental accounting consulting, individual and small business tax planning, as well as capital improvement and depreciation. He is a QuickBooks Pro advisor.

BRITTANY L. RIDDICK: Staff Accountant

Brittany joined Hancock Askew last year upon graduation from Georgia Southern University. She has experience in preparing individual, partnership and corporate tax returns, as well as 401(k) audits and financial statements. She is a QuickBooks Pro advisor.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

WHAT: Four accountants from Hancock Askew & Co. will be available to help answer your QuickBooks questions.

WHEN: 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesday

CALL: 912-525-0766. Calls will be answered in the order received. Selected questions and answers will be published in the Savannah Morning News on Sunday, Feb. 3.

CAN’T CALL IN WEDNESDAY? Email your questions to acarroll@hancockaskew.com by 9 a.m. Wednesday. The advisors will answer as many of the emailed questions as space allows in Sunday’s paper.

Well, it’s official: 2012 was a good year for employment in the Savannah metro area.

Of course, while last year was a good year for local jobs, it wasn’t good enough to make up for all the bad years preceding it.

If it didn’t feel like a good year, you might work in one of the fields that is lagging the recovery such as construction or financial activities.

Or you might be one of many jobseekers who can’t get your resume noticed in a crowded field of applicants.

Or you might be getting pinched by several years of stagnant wages.

Or you might have adopted the deep cynicism encouraged by some media outlets and doomsaying politicians.

If you fall into the last camp, it’s also likely you will simply reject the economic data released by the Georgia Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But keep in mind that those agencies are staffed by career civil servants from across the political spectrum. They’ve been using the same methodology for many years, in good times and bad, to produce monthly estimates of employment and unemployment.

The data are often confusing, however, because officials conduct two different surveys each month. Employment is tracked by surveying establishments with payrolls. The unemployment rate and other details about the labor force are estimated from a survey of households.

The two surveys don’t always seem in sync, and the household survey is especially noisy month to month. That survey also uses a broader definition of the word “job” and counts workers that the payroll survey will miss.

But over time the two surveys give us a good picture of job growth and unemployment.

According to December payroll data released by the Georgia Department of Labor two weeks ago, the Savannah metro area (Chatham, Effingham and Bryan counties) added 5,100 nonfarm payroll jobs in 2012. That’s an increase of 3.4 percent, more than twice as fast as population growth.

Private-sector employment was up 3.8 percent in December compared to a year earlier.

The gains were particularly pronounced in the final months of the year, with December showing an annualized rate of 6 percent job growth.

The sectors that lagged were predictable ones: construction, financial activities and government.

Just a few days ago, the Georgia Department of Labor released details from the household survey. That survey always shows a higher level of employment because it might include folks who don’t show up on payrolls — unpaid interns, the self-employed, folks working off the books and so forth.

The local unemployment rate in December jumped to 8.2 percent from 7.7 percent in November. But an increase was to be expected because of a variety of seasonal factors.

More importantly, the Savannah metro unemployment rate was down half a point from December 2011.

That’s a solid decline, but it misses some of the vitality of the local job market last year.

The number of area residents reporting themselves as being employed increased by 3.9 percent in December compared to a year earlier. That’s even better than the payroll estimates.

And the civilian labor force — the combined number of all those both employed and unemployed — grew by 3.3 percent last year. Again, that’s considerably faster than the rate of population growth.

Many of us have been expecting a rebound in the labor force participation rate as the economy recovers. With hiring picking up, some discouraged jobseekers will start looking more actively.

By the way, in many parts of Georgia, the growth in the civilian labor force did not keep pace with population growth in 2012. I’m not sure whether to see that as good news for us or bad news for other areas.

Employment is considered a lagging indicator of economic activity. Employers are generally slow to fire when times are bad and slow to hire when times are getting better.

So the surge in commercial investment in recent months will likely yield some strong employment estimates at least through the spring.

In a few weeks, we’ll get some numbers for January, and they’ll look bad. January is a lousy month for employment, even during boom times.

So don’t be fooled by expected seasonal patterns. The Georgia Department of Labor adjusts most of its statewide estimates for seasonality, but that’s not done at the local level.

And don’t be fooled by all the doom and gloom on Facebook or on some media outlets.

Yes, we’re still struggling through a long recovery from a deep recession and perilous financial crisis, but Savannah’s job market is improving steadily after several years of decline and stagnation.

City Talk appears every Tuesday and Sunday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 East 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.

The Georgia Ports Authority ended calendar year 2012 with a strong December, marking an 11.7 percent increase in total tonnage across all terminals and a 21.8 percent increase in auto and machinery units compared to December 2011.

The total volume of 2.27 million tons puts December among the top 10 months on record and the highest performing December ever, GPA executive director Curtis Foltz told his board Monday.

“This figure, boosted in part by outstanding growth in sectors such as bulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo, is the result of GPA’s exceptional cargo diversity and overall performance,” Foltz said.

The total tonnage figure was up more than 238,000 tons, or 11.7 percent, compared to December 2011.

Container tonnage was 1.76 million in December, a jump of 4.2 percent. TEU throughput for the month hit 219,128 units, an improvement of 2.2 percent, or 4,656 units, over the previous year.

A TEU is the equivalent of one 20-foot container.

Colonel’s Island in Brunswick and Savannah’s Ocean Terminal moved a combined 54,884 auto and machinery units, an increase of 18.2 percent, making December the fifth busiest month on record for rolling cargo.

“Our December figures show an important uptick in total tonnage across all facilities, as well as impressive auto volumes,” said board chairman Robert Jepson.

Strike threat cools container numbers

A review of the first half of fiscal 2013 — July through December — has total tonnage across all terminals up 4.1 percent at 13.3 million tons, while rolling cargo reached nearly 321,000 units for a year-over-year growth of 21.8 percent.

At 1.3 million tons, breakbulk was up nearly 11 percent, while bulk tonnage increased by 62 percent to reach 1.2 million tons.

However, the total number of TEUs was down 1.1 percent for the fiscal year-to-date, at 1.45 million. This drop was due primarily to the ongoing diversion of Asian imports to the West Coast as the threat of an East Coast strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association continues, Foltz said.

“Savannah has lost approximately 6,000 containers per month since October, and we project this to continue until a new labor contract is ratified,” he said.

GPA revenue for the month of December was $23.2 million, 10.6 percent higher than the same month in 2011. Revenues of $144.6 million for the first half of the fiscal year were slightly lower than budgeted, but 5.3 percent higher than the same period in 2011.

The positive revenue numbers for the period were attributable to strong breakbulk and bulk cargo, while container revenues were down on softer volume.

Lower than expected container volumes were partially mitigated by higher-than-budgeted refrigerated and intermodal rail activity, Foltz reported.

Deepening prep progressing

Although mitigation discussions with South Carolina’s Savannah River Maritime Authority and the Southern Environmental Law Center — both opponents of the project — are ongoing, several required design components are under way.

Among them are the city of Savannah’s raw water storage, the dissolved oxygen project, the McCoys Cut diversion, the fish bypass near Augusta, the removal of the CSS Georgia, outer harbor dredging and dike removal.

Real estate appraisals, surveys and other preparatory work are also under way.

“Make no mistake — this project continues to move along,” Foltz told the board.

GPA BY THE NUMBERS

DECEMBER

2012 2011 Varience

Total tonnage 2.27 million 2.03 million 11.7 percent

TEUs 219,026 214,472 2.1 percent

Breakbulk tons 214,260 209,679 2.2 percent

Bulk tons 290,909 127,848 127.5 percent

Auto/machinery units 54,884 46,430 18.2 percent

FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE (July-December)

2013 2012 Varience

Total tonnage 13.3 million 12.8 million 4.1 percent

TEUs 1.46 million 1.47 million (1.1 percent)

Breakbulk tons 1.31 million 1.18 million 10.9 percent

Bulk tons 1.21 million 746,498 62.2 percent

Auto/machinery units 320,998 263,649 21.8 percent