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Hires/promotions

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HIRES/PROMOTIONS

KARIN SCARPINATO

New job title: Associate dean for research in residence in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Company: Georgia Southern University

Duties: Scarpinato will help coordinate opportunities to support faculty, staff and students in the areas of research and scholarship.

Education: Scarpinato earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from Georg-August University in Goettingen, Germany.

NIKKI WRIGHT

New job title: Commercial agent/property management

Company: Mia Madison Properties

Duties: Wright will assist commercial clients with sales, leasing and purchasing of real estate. She will also assist commercial property owners in all aspects of property management.

Related work experience: Wright has six years of real estate experience.

Education: Wright is a graduate of Armstrong Atlantic State University.

PAM WORRELL-CARLISLE

New job title: Homecare team manager

Company: Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Duties: Worrell-Carlisle will coordinate and supervise homecare nurses, chaplains, nursing assistants and social workers while meeting all state and Joint Commission quality standards.

Related work experience: Carlisle has team leadership and clinical management experience in hospice care in Indiana.

Education: Carlisle holds a BSN and master’s degree in nursing and counseling psychology from Ball State University.

RON WILLIAMS

New job title: Director of human resources

Company: Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Duties: Williams will oversee all aspects of personnel management, including recruitment, retention, employee relations, labor relations and benefits.

Related work experience: Williams has more than 20 years experience in human resource management.

Education: Williams holds an MBA in human resources and a BS in laboratory technology from Auburn University.

EDWARD HOOD, IV

New job title: Program director, accelerated graduate programs

Company: South University

Duties: Hood will manage the university’s accelerated MBA programs.

Related work experience: Hood has served in higher education positions in student and financial services and operations since 2008. Hood also worked in banking and finance in Savannah.

Education: Hood earned his MBA at Georgia Southern University and his bachelor of business administration in banking and finance at the University of Georgia.

STEPHEN DOWNING

New job title: Branch manager, Godley Station

Company: The Coastal Bank

Duties: Downing will manage all staff responsibilities and partner with the bank’s commercial, mortgage and personal banking departments to market bank products and services to the Godley Station community.

Related work experience: Downing served as a personal banker at The Coastal Bank’s Stephenson Avenue location. He also worked at Wachovia at The Landings on Skidaway Island as a licensed financial specialist, overseeing the management of clients’ cash management, lending and investment needs.

LLOYD ALBERSON

New job title: Executive chef

Company: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

Related work experience: Alberson has more than 20 years of experience.

Education: Alberson graduated from Troy University with a degree in marketing and anthropology. He also holds a culinary arts degree from Faulkner University.

HONORS/AWARDS

NLaws Produce names Driver of the Month

NLaws Produce has named Anthony Green Driver of the Month. Green has been employed with NLaws Produce for one year.

Veterinarian honored

The Georgia Veterinary Medical Association has awarded James E. Strickland, DVM of Glennville Veterinary Clinic with the J.T. Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012. The J.T. Mercer, DVM Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest recognition bestowed by the GVMA.

Savannah resident honored by Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital

Long-time community volunteer Kathy Levitt has been named the first ever St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundations Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital Volunteer of the Year. Levitt has been involved with fundraising and volunteering since 1994.

Attorney honored

The Conner Law Group managing partner Mike Conner has been selected as one of Georgia’s Top 100 Litigation lawyers by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA).

Savannah attorney honored

Elizabeth F. Thompson has been selected by her peers as a 2012 member of the Legal Elite in Real Estate Law as published in Georgia Trend magazine.

Attorney recognized

Savannah attorney and registered mediator, Jamie F. Clark, was recently recognized by her legal peers across the state as one of Georgia’s 2012 Legal Elite in Elder Law, recently published in Georgia Trends Magazine.


Inside insurance: Who's the drunkest of them all?

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The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety warns that Georgia motorists are on track for an increase in this year’s highway fatalities for the first time in six years.

Last year, 1,226 people died on the state’s roadways. That is why this year’s holiday catch phrase from the office of highway safety is: “If you don’t drive sober, you’ll get pulled over.”

While catch phrases have a long-standing tradition in road safety programs, it is a good idea to pay attention to this one since law enforcement is getting tougher on drivers who put others at risk on the state’s roadways. Just for the record, so are insurers.

Year-end holidays are a time for office parties and gatherings of friends and family. There is no shortage of alcoholic drinks for most of these events, and therein lies the problem.

Drunken driving never takes a holiday. That’s why law enforcement is joined ever year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and other interested groups. It’s the same story over and over.

“Just one more.” “I can handle it.” “I’m fine.” “No problem!” These phrases are often the last words friends, loved ones and bartenders hear as the impaired driver heads down the road.

If you can’t handle it and are convicted of drunken driving, you face numerous consequences.

In Georgia, even on a first offense you are likely to face a one-year suspension of your license, one of the strictest punishments in the country. Convicted drunken drivers also face vehicle confiscation, possible jail time up to one year and may have to pay a fine anywhere from $300 to $1,000.

If that doesn’t deter you, consider a huge increase in insurance premiums or worse yet, your auto insurance is non-renewed when you do get out of jail.

Think this is harsh? You know it. When it comes to drunken driving, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a sports figure, a movie star or the next-door neighbor. The lesson here is that we as individuals are responsible for our actions.

The fact is one can blame the bartender, the party host, the company that hosted the event, or you can blame drunken driving on personal problems, various other circumstances or do what is the most difficult — look in a mirror.

If that doesn’t help, the federal safety board is recommending that all states require ignition interlock devices for convicted drunken drivers, including first-time offenders. The five-member National Transportation Safety Board said the devices are currently the best available solution to reducing drunken driving deaths, which account for about a third of the nation’s 32,000 traffic deaths each year.

In particular, the board cited a new study by its staff that found some 360 people a year are killed in wrong-way driving crashes on high-speed highways. The study concluded that 69 percent of wrong-way drivers had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit of .08.

Let’s really be careful out there this year.

David Colmans is executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service, an industry association of property and casualty insurance companies that do business in Georgia. Contact him by email at dcolmans@giis.org.

Exchange in brief

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Doctor wins Hospital Hero Award

ATLANTA – Dr. Seth Borquaye, with Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, is among 10 winners of the Georgia Hospital Association’s annual Hospital Hero Awards announced during a Dec. 4 luncheon.

Borquaye and the others were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the hospital and health care field. A lifetime achievement award was presented to James W. Mooney, of Willingway Hospital in Statesboro.

“The 11 winners of these esteemed awards represent some of the most compassionate and devoted health care workers in our state,” said Joseph Parker, president of the hospital association.

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, 2 W. Bay St.

The cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the awards program from 7-9 p.m.

The organization will hold its 2013 membership luncheon on Jan. 17 at the ANdaZ, 14 Barnard St.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the speaker will be Savannah Mayor Pro Tem Van Johnson.

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

Georgia Chamber to feature former education secretary

Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and current senior adviser to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of its U.S. Forum for Policy Innovation, will be the keynote speaker at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce 2013 annual meeting on Jan. 15.

Spellings served as education secretary under former President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009, launching initiatives focused on enhancing education accountability and quality K-12 and promoting accessibility and affordability in higher education.

The Chamber’s meeting and dinner will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center and will be followed by the annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast on Jan. 16, which will feature Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.gachamber.com/events or call 404-223-2264.

Donation aids teen program

Xerox Corporation and the local chapter of Omega Psi Phi have teamed up to support the Teen Success Program at the West Broad Street YMCA.

On Friday, representatives of Xerox and Omega Psi Phi presented the West Broad Street YMCA with a check for $3,300. The money will help support the organization’s Teen Success Club, a program that helps teens stay in school, develop a career plan, and be involved in community service, character development, education and healthy living.

Parker's donates gas cards to Memorial Foundation

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Parker’s stores have donated $10,000 in gas cards to Memorial Health Foundation to help defray the cost for patients and their families to travel to Memorial University Medical Center for chemotherapy, radiation treatment or neonatal care.

The gas card donation is part of the company’s Fueling the Community program, which also supports area schools.

“Because of the Anderson Cancer Institute’s outstanding reputation and because Memorial is the only Children’s Hospital in a 31-county region, many patients travel for hours to get medical care,” said CEO Greg Parker. “As a result, fuel is a major economic challenge.”

Through the Memorial Health Foundation, fragile families and individuals in need can find help, thanks to donations to Patient Assistance Funds, which focus mostly on cancer patients and families with sick children. Donations to Patient Assistance Funds are distributed according to strict guidelines and managed by Memorial’s social workers and case workers, ensuring that individuals and families with the greatest need get help.

“These gas cards allow patients to focus on healing,” said Parker, “not on whether they can afford gas to get back and forth to treatment.”

Busines events

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Tourism council schedules awards dinner, luncheon

The Tourism Leadership Council wil1 hold its fifth annual tourism awards and scholarship dinner Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, 2 W. Bay St.

The cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the awards program from 7-9 p.m.

The organization will hold its 2013 membership luncheon on Jan. 17 at the ANdaZ, 14 Barnard St.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the speaker will be Savannah Mayor Pro Tem Van Johnson.

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

Georgia Tech Professional Education Offers courses

Georgia Tech Professional Education will provide an Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry (OTI 510) course at the Georgia Tech-Savannah campus Jan. 14-18. This course can be used to obtain a Construction Safety and Health Certificate from Georgia Tech Professional Education and is required for anyone who would like to become a trainer.

Date: Jan. 14-18

Location: Georgia Tech-Savannah campus

Contact: www.gtpe.gatech.edu/oti510

2013 Economic Outlook Luncheon

The Economic Outlook Luncheon is held in collaboration with the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and Armstrong Atlantic State University. The local economic forecast will be presented by Dr. Michael Toma of Armstrong Atlantic State University. And the state, regional and national projection will be delivered by Dean Robert Sumichrast of Terry College of Business.

Date: Jan. 17

Time: Noon-2 p.m.

Location: The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa

Cost: $40 for members ($400 for a table) and $50 for non-members ($500 for a table)

Purchase tickets at SavannahChamber.com

Contact: Margaret Mary Russell at 912-644-6432

Business after hours

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

The Beach House — A Holiday Inn Resort

Thursday, Jan. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce January’s Business After Hours will be held at The Beach House — A Holiday Inn Resort. Enjoy casual networking, great food and complimentary beer and wine along with great door prizes and more.

The cost is $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. For more information go to hiltonheadchamber.org.

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber restaurant week

Jan. 26-Feb. 2

Modeled after successful culinary events in New York and other cities, more than 50 member restaurants will offer special prix-fixe multi-course menus for Lowcountry diners, Jan. 26-Feb. 2.

For more information go to hiltonheadchamber.org.

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber young professionals group

Where: Corks Wine Bar, Bluffton

When: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber Ball

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

Saturday, Feb. 2

6:30 p.m.

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

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

BUSINESS EXPO

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

Jan. 26-27

Join the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber for Business EXPO. With over 2,000 attendees, Business EXPO is the largest business-building and networking event in the Lowcountry. To register, go to hiltonheadchamber.org or call (843) 785-3673.

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 E. 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 E. 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.

Savannah Port workers spread holiday cheer

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Students in the Pooler Elementary School Chorus turned holiday carolers last week to help the Georgia Ports Authority wrap up its annual CASA gift campaign.

Angela Powell, Pooler Elementary music teacher, said the student chorus members had been practicing the program since September, largely in sessions before school and at home. Their medley included traditional favorites, as well as songs for peace.

The GPA/CASA gift drive, benefitting children under the care of Court Apppointed Special Advocates, is in its 11th year.

Case workers at CASA supply the Port Authority with wish lists for children and youth ranging in age from newborn to 16 years.

“CASA performs a vital service, looking after the interests of abused and neglected children,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “This program allows us, in small way, to take part in their important mission.”

GPA employees, separately and in groups, signed up to sponsor one of 52 children this year. Gift suggestions included clothes, toys, dolls, bikes and computer games.

“This is a tremendous blessing. You all have adopted 52 children, who we know will have Christmas. A lot of times they come from homes where they don’t know where tomorrow’s home will be. Sometimes they move from home to home, and they don’t have anything,” said Charlene Peebles, CASA advocacy coordinator. “It’s so overwhelming, the support you all have given to our CASA children. We couldn’t do it without you.”

CASA develops and supports court-sanctioned, locally-based programs that provide trained and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court deprivation proceedings.

Exchange in brief

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Gas prices drop in metro Savannah

Average retail gasoline prices in Savannah have fallen 5.7 cents a gallon in the past week to $3.23 a gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 262 gas outlets in Savannah.

The national average has fallen 8.0 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.25, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Prices Sunday were 9.4 cents a gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 3.1 cents a gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 18.3 cents a gallon during the last month and stands 1.3 cents higher than a year ago.

GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said prices in some areas still could set all-time record highs for Christmas Day.

“Call me a grinch, call me a realist, but at the end of the day, data doesn’t lie,” DeHaan said, “and that data shows that gasoline prices are still clinging near all time highs for today’s date.”

City begins smart-card sale

The city of Savannah has begun selling — for a limited time — Parking Smart Cards for 50 percent off their face value.

Parking Smart Cards can be used at any pay-and-display parking meter in Savannah and have no expiration date. The cards are available in denominations of $25, $50, $75 or $100. The pay-and-display meters are concentrated in the Historic District north of Broughton Street.

To buy a Smart Card, call 912-651-6470 or stop by the Parking Services Office at 100 E. Bryan St. on the ground level of the Bryan Street Parking Garage.

Area experts to offer top 10 tips

The Savannah chapter of SCORE has invited small-business owners to mark their calendards for the fourth Thursday of each month when area experts will give their top 10 tips on various subjects.

The first lecture will be “how to get the most from your social media” on Jan.17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 111 E. Liberty St. Noah Yaughn, the owner of Arc Media Group, will be the speaker.

The lecture is free. RSVP to 912-652-4335.

New libraries to break ground

The public is invited to two groundbreakings for two new libraries Wednesday.

Groundbreaking for the new Islands library site at the corner of Johnny Mercer Boulevard and Whitemarsh Island Road will be held at 1:30 p.m.

The second groundbreaking will be at 3:30 p.m. at the new Garden City library, 100 Central Ave., Garden City Town Center.

For more information, contact Warnell Benford at 912-652-3603 or benfordw@liveoakpl.org.

Meeting explores possible low-power, non-commercial radio in Savannah

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Signed into law in January 2011, the Local Community Radio Act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission issue licenses for hundreds of new noncommercial radio stations across the U.S.

These will be low-power FM stations operated by nonprofit entities – including 501(c)3 groups, schools and religious organizations. Applications are due in October 2013.

A diverse group of about 20 Savannah area residents gathered on Sunday evening at Trinity United Methodist Church to hear Jeff Rousset of the Prometheus Radio Project talk about the possibility for new local stations.

The audience included a fascinating mix of community activists, writers, musicians and some folks with significant experience in radio generally and noncommercial radio specifically.

The Prometheus Radio Project (http://www.prometheusradio.org) primarily supports the work of social justice organizations and groups that work within marginalized communities, but the application process will no doubt attract groups of varying political and religious orientations.

We’re talking here about small stations primarily staffed by volunteers.

But radio? Really? Aren’t we in a visual and digital age?

As Rousset and others at the meeting noted, radio still has a huge reach, can bring communities together and is relatively inexpensive to establish and operate. A new station could be launched for as little as $10,000 and operated for as little as $3,000 per year, according to Rousset.

We’re talking here about stations of modest reach, with signals of less than 10 miles in radius. So a station with an antenna in downtown Savannah might barely reach Pooler, Georgetown or Wilmington Island.

Given the limited coverage area and the fact we potentially have 13 available frequencies on the local FM dial, we could see the FCC approve several new stations.

Those who gathered Sunday identified a number of needs that nonprofit community radio could meet, including in-depth discussion of neighborhood issues, music programming that highlights local performers and touring acts and the dispersal of information about community resources.

As intriguing as all this sounds, any serious efforts will face some hurdles.

Some costs are associated with the initial application, primarily due to the need for engineering work.

It’s possible that multiple worthy organizations might apply for the same frequency.

Older organizations with good track records will be given precedence over newer ones. It might seem most sensible for several groups to band together to launch a station, but the licenses will go to individual, pre-existing entities.

Still, those gathered on Sunday evening seemed energized by the discussion and by the possibilities. The atmosphere in the room revealed the passion that’s out there to improve our hometown.

Sunday’s meeting was primarily organized by local musician Dare Dukes, who also works with the Global Action Project. He can be reached via dare.dukes@gmail.com.

Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 E. 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.


Economists forecasting moderate 2013 growth

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WASHINGTON — Business economists believe the country will see modest growth in 2013 with strength coming from a further rebound in housing, which will help offset weakness in business investment.

In its latest survey of top forecasters, the National Association for Business Economics says it is looking for the economy to grow in 2013 by 2.1 percent after 2.2 percent growth in 2012. That would continue the same tepid growth the country has seen since the Great Recession ended in mid-2009.

Growth at that pace is not strong enough to make a significant improvement in unemployment. The NABE economists believe unemployment will average 7.7 percent for all of next year, right at the level it reached in November.

The 48 NABE economists on the survey panel had essentially the same outlook as their previous forecast in October. While they have modest expectations for 2013, they do see growth slowly improving as the year progresses.

The economists forecast growth in the gross domestic product, the economy’s total output of goods and services, at 1.6 percent in the current October-December quarter, down from 2.7 percent growth in the July-September period. Part of that slowdown, the economists believe, will reflect the disruptions caused by superstorm Sandy, which slammed into the Northeast on Oct. 29.

About half of the economists surveyed believe Sandy will cut growth by 0.2 percentage point to 0.5 percentage point in the current quarter and about one-third of the survey panel believe rebuilding from the storm will increase growth by a similar 0.2 percentage point to 0.5 percentage point range in the first three months of next year.

The NABE panel is looking for GDP growth at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the first quarter followed by rates of 2.4 percent in the April-June quarter, 2.6 percent in the third quarter and 3 percent in the fourth quarter next year.

Nayantara Hensel, head of the NABE panel and a business professor at the National Defense University in Washington, said part of the optimism that growth will be improving is a belief that the government will come to a resolution of the fiscal cliff.

“The panelists believe that once there is greater clarity on budget and tax issues, you will see less uncertainty on the part of businesses and consumers,” she said.

The panelists expect housing will once again be a standout performer with residential investment growing at an annual rate of 12 percent next year. Builders are expected to break ground on 930,000 new homes in 2013, up 21 percent from this year, while home prices are expected to increase 3.5 percent, after an expected 3 percent gain this year.

But the panelists look for business investment in equipment and software and structures to slow in 2013. They are also looking for after-tax corporate profits to show an increase of 5 percent, down from an expected 8.5 percent gain in 2012. Both years are below the 10.2 percent average increase over the past 20 years.

GM sweetens truck deals

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DETROIT — General Motors is offering generous deals on Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks after they piled up on dealer lots.

GM is matching or beating discounts from rivals Ford and Chrysler this month. It miscalculated in November when it reduced incentives and truck buyers went looking elsewhere for sweeter deals.

The three Detroit automakers have been vying for new truck business all year as the market continues a slow rebound from the Great Recession. Experts say buyers can now get discounts of $4,500 or more on some of the best-selling vehicles in the country. Throw in low interest rates, sweet lease deals and abundant financing and it’s a good time for people who are in the market for a truck.

“They’re all very competitive with each other right now,” said Russell Barnett, who owns dealerships around Winchester, Tenn., southeast of Nashville, that sell GM pickups, as well as the Ford F-Series and Chrysler’s Ram. “The manufacturers are putting a big emphasis on it, and there are a lot of people in the market.”

GM is offering up to $9,000 off remaining 2012 models pickups and close to $4,500 off 2013s, while the other automakers have either held steady or raised incentives on certain models. Dealers say Chrysler’s average incentive is around $5,000, while Ford’s is less, around $4,000.

That means good deals on Ford’s F-Series pickup, the top-selling vehicle in America, as well as the Silverado, which ranks second. Together, the Detroit Three control 83 percent of the U.S. full-size pickup truck market.

Chrysler led the way on incentives most months this year, sometimes exceeding $5,000, and GM wasn’t far behind. But in November, GM cut discounts on the Silverado and Sierra by about $400, falling almost $1,200 below the Ram and $100 below Ford, according to figures from J.D. Power and Associates. That came just as the pickup truck rebound accelerated, costing GM sales.

Silverado sales fell 10 percent last month, while Ford truck sales rose 18 percent and Ram leaped 23 percent. So Silverados and Sierras began stacking up on dealer lots. At the end of November, Chevrolet had enough Sierras to supply dealers for 138 days at the current sales rate, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank. By contrast, Ford had a 90-day supply of F-150s, and Chrysler had 106 days’ worth of Rams. Automakers consider a 60-day supply to be optimal to give buyers enough selection, although that runs a little higher on pickups because there are so many different versions.

GM executives said their strategy in November was to keep incentives down so consumers would buy cars and trucks on their merits. But GM’s trucks haven’t been redesigned since 2007, putting them at a disadvantage to newer trucks from Chrysler and Ford. GM was forced to respond with bigger discounts this month.

“We went harder because we missed on November,” Mark Reuss, GM’s North American president, said last week as he unveiled new trucks that will hit showrooms late next spring. “We’re off to a good start,” said Reuss, who wouldn’t reveal by how much GM had reduced its truck inventory.

The Ram has been the most heavily discounted of the pickups because buyers expect big discounts from Chrysler, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive, a Detroit-area firm that tracks auto sales trends. GM has been in the middle. Ford has been able to keep discounts down due to the popularity of its turbocharged six-cylinder “Ecoboost” engine that can tow loads yet still gets decent gas mileage, Schuster said. Although most pickups sold in the past have had more powerful eight-cylinder engines, half of Ford’s sales this year have been equipped with V-6s.

At Serra Chevrolet in Southfield, Mich., north of Detroit, truck sales have been strong all year, but December is shaping as one of the best months of the year because of the incentives, said Greg Brown, general manager. “I’m selling every one I get,” he said. “I think the incentives are phenomenal. It’s driving traffic in here.”

And GM promises to remain competitive with discounts, at least in the short run, said Don Johnson, head of Chevrolet sales. “We want to make sure we get our unfair or fair share,” he said. But he added that the company won’t go into “liquidation mode” to sell trucks. And this month GM expects to build only 7 new pickups for every 10 it sells, which will also trim inventory.

Schuster said GM has been making too many trucks for the market.

He cautioned that the deals may not last long, especially as GM gets closer to selling its revamped trucks. The housing industry is coming back, and that always increases truck sales. And the average age of pickup trucks on the roads is approaching 11 years, so companies and individual buyers are replacing them, Schuster said. That means there will be demand that could cut into supply and increase prices, he said.

“You have everyone trying to finish the year strongly,” he said. “As we then look into next year, we’re likely to see higher prices, certainly on the new trucks.”

Fondarific wins training grant

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Fondarific, a local company founded four years ago by Laura Darnall and Lois Judy, has been named one of two small businesses in the state to receive a grant from the Sam’s Club Giving Program and SCORE.

Darnall and Judy, whose Garden City company produces and distributes a line of moldable icings for decorating cakes and other confections, will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to a special two-day educational event, sponsored by SCORE, to help them implement strategies to grow their business.

The grant will also fund three regional educational workshop events in 2013 hosted by SCORE for any small business in the region.

In addition to the training, Fondarific will receive a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card.

“Working with SCORE has provided a strong foundation to help our business grow,” Judy said. “The gift card from Sam’s Club, which helps us with such essentials as office and cleaning supplies, and the additional training will really help us take Fondarific to the next level.”

The latest honor is not the first for Darnall and Judy.

Earlier this year, the self-described soccer moms who parlayed an edible preschool art project into an international business were named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2012 Georgia Small Business Persons of the Year.

“Our collaboration with SCORE allows Sam’s Club to provide the tools and goods that small business owners need to enter the New Year with increased confidence and optimism,” said John Boswell, senior vice president of marketing, member insights and e-commerce for Sam’s Club. “Every day our associates strive to positively impact the lives of small businesses that are so important to the fabric and success of our country.”

The 102 businesses, two in each state and the District of Columbia, were selected by SCORE based on each business’ need and commitment to ongoing learning and growth.

SCORE will utilize the grant from Sam’s Club to sponsor a two-day “High Speed Growth Seminar” in January especially for the 102 winners. The special training program will feature key executives and workshops on attracting customers, branding, online marketing and developing a sales plan.

The grant will also fund continued regional and local training for these businesses with SCORE mentors.

“Small businesses truly are the backbone of our economy, particularly during lean times,” said SCORE CEO W. Kenneth Yancey, Jr. “With the support of Sam’s Club this holiday season, these small businesses will be in a position to take the critical next step in their evolution.”

 

THE FONDARIFIC STORY

Laura Darnall, a former teacher at Southwest Elementary, and Lois Judy, a former registered nurse at Candler Hospital, met on the sidelines of their daughters’ soccer games some six years ago and became fast friends.

When Darnall brought a sample of the Candy Clay Dough she had developed for her students’ art projects to one of the soccer parties, Judy urged her to expand and market her creation. Working together, with Darnall creating the product and Judy handling the business end, Fondarific — a line of moldable icings for decorating cakes and other confections — was launched in 2008 in a small utility building in Darnall’s backyard.

Within a month, the product won the confections category at the Flavor of Georgia Contest in Atlanta. Last summer, the company purchased and renovated a 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility off Chatham Parkway. Today, with the help of more than two dozen full-time employees, the multimillion-dollar company ships its flavored fondant across the country and around the world.

Exchange in brief

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Cruise-ship permit issued for Charleston

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina environmental regulators on Tuesday issued a needed permit for a $35 million cruise passenger terminal in Charleston saying allowing the terminal doesn’t really change what is happening on the waterfront of a city that has had a port for centuries.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management issued the permit allowing the South Carolina State Ports Authority to drive pilings beneath an old riverfront warehouse for the new terminal.

The permit does incorporate a voluntary agreement between the Ports Authority and the city of Charleston limiting the number of cruise stops to 104 a year.

There has been debate over the city’s growing cruise industry for several years and two public hearings on the permit earlier this year drew hundreds of people. The controversy has sparked lawsuits in both state and federal court.

Savannah Tech welding program recognized

Savannah Technical College’s Welding Department was recently designated a Level 1 and Level 2 SENSE school by the American Welding Society. SENSE or Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education establishes standards and guidelines for welder training.

“My staff has met and exceeded the rigorous guidelines set forth by AWS for more than two years to achieve SENSE School Status,” said William Burns, department head for Savannah Tech Welding and Joining Technology.

SENSE training has three levels: Entry welder (I), advanced welder (II) and expert welder (III). Upon successful completion of each level of the standards and guidelines, students may test to receive a certificate of completion.

Level I is designed for entry-level training. Level II is designed for two-year career and technical education programs or for those with welding experience. Level III is for those in four-year programs or those with advanced experience.

Beaufort considers allowing boat hotels

BEAUFORT, S.C. — Beaufort City Council is expected to consider whether to allow boat hotels at the city’s downtown marina.

The Beaufort Gazette reports that the local planning commission has approved the concept of the boats, which have been dubbed “botels.”

The owner of a 93-foot yacht has proposed renting rooms overnight when his yacht is at the marina. But the city’s downtown marina has rules to protect the environment and limit commercial enterprises.

City planner Libby Anderson says the staff has concerns about the concept but said city ordinances could be changed to allow up to six boats renting five rooms each at designated docks.

The proposal still must be considered by city council.

Eat a peach -- Savannah style

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In my last piece, I spotlighted a few nonprofit organizations making major impacts on our community. Today I’ll highlight a few noteworthy individuals who are making positive impacts on Savannah in their own unique ways.

I list these in no particular order, and it pains me to limit my list to six, but here we go:

1. Kristin Russell, Teri Schell and the army of food lovers who created and sustain the Forsyth Farmers Market. The farmers market is almost single-handedly creating a new food movement in Savannah.

Every Saturday, farmers from throughout our region congregate at the south end of Forsyth Park to hawk their wares and educate visitors on healthy food and produce items. Local restaurants purchase produce here, alongside Savannah’s most nutrient-rich individuals.

The volunteers who make this market happen every Saturday deserve a big hug from the culinary conscious public. If you haven’t been, go and be healthy. forsythfarmersmarket.com.

2. Sticking with the food scene, we cannot overlook the painstaking hard work of Rene Tran and his cadre of Well Fed content producers.

Rene publishes a monthly periodical covering the entire food landscape, chronicles the local food movement and has successfully produced for two years in a row Food Day. Pick up Rene’s publication, meet the man and become a part of the Well Fed movement. www.wellfedsavannah.com.

3. Kay Wolfersberger and her fiance, Ben, came into my life over a year ago when I tried to talk them out of starting an art gallery. At the time, Kay worked for SCAD in its Working Class Studio department. She has since departed the friendly confines of SCAD to parlay her design aesthetic into a private enterprise.

You can see her branding work on local startups, regional websites and secretly impacting popular styles and brands in our fair city. Stay tuned to Kay’s new collaborative effort dubbed The Maker Collective, at kaylovescandy.com/.

4. There is a coffee revolution afoot in Savannah. The Sentient Bean and Gallery Espresso started the madness many years ago, and both of these establishments are flourishing. However, Philip Brown of PERC and Jen Jenkins of Foxy Loxy and now Coffee Fox are trending. Jen’s shops are handsome, clean, friendly and fresh. Philip’s roasts have many of the same qualities.

5. Sticking with the theme of revolutions, let’s talk about music. Bill Dawers, the most prolific attender of happenings I know, has an incredible blog covering the Savannah music scene better than anyone in the region. If you care about Savannah music, stay tuned to www.billdawers.com.

Kayne Lanahan’s Savannah Stopover Music Festival solidifies the spring as the best season to be in Savannah. Kayne has transformed a simple idea into a movement, and her festival has grown into a regional powerhouse of great music. Stay tuned for bigger and better acts in 2013.

Blake Olmstead and Peter Mavrogeorgis’ recent opening of Dollhouse Studios is not only a world-class recording facility but an incredible place to hang while watching fantastic emerging acts. It’s exciting that Blake and Peter have committed time, money and energy to producing a state-of-the-art music facility in Savannah.

6. Matt Hebermehl and Kathryn Sandoz are individually changing Savannah’s art scene. Hebermehl is street, gritty, youthful and graphic; Sandoz is refined, polished and bucolic. Apart, they are individually powerful, but when working together, they scream.

I am excited by their commitment to Savannah, the local art community and activism. Their connections, warmth and ability to bring new people into the fold does more for Savannah than any museum or gallery could ever do.

Savannah remains a town of old money and heritage, but this new, young, vibrant movement of people transforming our local scene is exciting.

The success of these individuals and countless others is reassuring. We should support these folks and their contemporaries. These are individuals who are committed to our community and are willing to invest time and resources to make our community more diverse, more engaging, more entertaining, healthier and more savory.

Make a resolution to get off the couch, get out and support Savannah’s local art, food and music scenes in 2013.

Jake Hodesh is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Jake can be reached at 912-447-8457 or jake@thecreativecoast.org.

Facebook users hit 'like,' stores jump into action

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NEW YORK — Facebook isn’t just for goofy pictures and silly chatter. Whether shoppers know it or not, their actions online help dictate what’s in stores during this holiday season.

After polling customers on the social media site, Macy’s decided to carry denim jeans in bright neon hues rather than pastels. Wal-Mart for the first time decided to let customers vote on which toys they want discounted. And to better plan orders for the decorative flags she sells, a small business owner in Mississippi is running a contest that encourages customers to chime in about how they’re decorating their homes this winter.

The impact of social media on a company’s bottom line is tough to quantify, with no hard data on how millions of Facebook fans and Twitter followers translate into sales for stores. But during the holiday shopping season, a roughly two-month period when retailers can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue, stores are uncovering a valuable use for all the seemingly useless online muttering: market research.

The result is that whenever folks press the “like” button to give their seal of approval for a particular company’s page or make a comment on how much they like the leather boots they just bought, they’re helping everyone from independently-owned small shops to the nation’s biggest retailers make decisions about what products to stock up on, what to play up on the sales floor and what promotions to offer online.

For the first time this year, one of Macy’s Inc.’s apparel buyers suggested the company solicit feedback on Facebook on which colors it should stock for “Else” brand jeans in the fall ahead of the holiday shopping season. Several weeks later, with about 2,500 “likes” and 750 comments, “Very Vivid” colors in bright blue, orange and red were declared the victor over softer shades such as baby pink and baby blue.

Rather than simply using social media to tout promotions and new products, companies are just now realizing the value of making customers feel as though they’re part of the decision making process, said Jennifer Kasper, who heads digital media at Macy’s. In addition to making customers feel like insiders, she said it helps businesses better tailor their offers as well.

Matt Cronin, a founding partner of Web Liquid Group, a digital marketing agency, agreed that companies are still in the early stages of figuring out how to put their social media profiles to use. Until now, he noted that social media strategies have primarily been about capturing as many followers or fans as possible without really knowing where to go from there.

One hurdle for major retailers is that it’s difficult to take the information they learn online and put it to use while the trends are still relevant, said Nicolas Franchet, head of retail e-commerce at Facebook.

That’s one of the trickier aspects of Wal-Mart Store Inc.’s new “Toyland Tuesday” contest, which lets fans vote on which of two toys will be discounted on the following Tuesday. Once a winner is declared on Thursday, the retailer acts quickly to inform its 4,000 stores of how to adjust pricing and displays, says Wanda Young, senior director of social media for Wal-Mart, which has more than 25 million likes on Facebook.

Although it’s the first time Wal-Mart is letting shoppers have a direct say in what merchandise gets discounted, the retailer is learning to use social media in more discreet ways as well. Last year, Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., acquired an analytics company called Kosmix that monitors online chatter to try and predict what products might suddenly become popular.

The unit, now called (at)Walmartlabs, suggested that the retailer give juicers prominent display for the holidays last year, after a movie about an obese man who lost weight on a juice diet started trending online. Wal-Mart declined to give examples of how it used online chatter this holiday season but said it’s slowly playing a bigger role in product decisions.

That’s critical because companies are realizing shopping behavior is often more influenced by what’s happening in pop culture, rather than their own past shopping patterns, said Shernaz Daver, a spokeswoman for (at)Walmartlabs.

“Social media has enabled us to understand intent,” she said.

Melinda Vitale Shaw, owner of the two-store MeLinda’s Fine Gifts in Picayune, Miss., is using the same concepts as the world’s biggest retailer. Since setting up a Facebook page in 2010, she’s used it as a sounding board for what to stock in her stores.

In the south, for example, it’s common for people to change the decorative flags outside their homes depending on the season or the holiday. To get a better sense of what type of decorative flags might sell well next year, Vitale Shaw recently asked fans to post about the designs they were currently flying, or what they wished they were flying.

She was surprised to see several comments about snowman flags, since it doesn’t snow much in the south. Even though Facebook sometimes proves her business instincts wrong, she called the site “a true retailer’s friend.”

In a more unusual case, the outdoor retailer Gander Mountain is handing the reins over to fans on social media. The chain, based in St. Paul, Minn., is running a promotion that lets customers determine the price of its products.

Every Thursday during the holiday season, customers can push down the price on five selected items by sharing them on Facebook or Twitter. The more shares an item gets, the lower the price goes; discounts start at 10 percent but can go as high as 50 percent. Shoppers can jump in and buy the items at any point, or wait for a lower discount but risk that the store will run out of the items.

“The customer has to decide. Do I buy it at 25 percent off or do I risk that Gander runs out of the jacket?” said Steve Uline, executive vice president of marketing of Gander Mountain, which has more than 500,000 “likes” on Facebook. “It makes it interesting for the consumer.”

Tondee's Tavern to return to Savannah in former Tony Roma's space

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Savannah’s early revolutionists, the Sons of Liberty, met in a downtown bar called Tondee’s Tavern.

Tondee’s closed not long after America won its independence and is remembered today through a plaque on its original location at Broughton and Whitaker streets and a small lounge area at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

Come Jan. 11, Tondee’s will be reborn.

Savannah restaurateur Willie Tuten will open a restaurant and bar in the Bay Street space formerly home to a Tony Roma’s franchise. Tony Roma’s, a national chain restaurant specializing in barbecue ribs, closed earlier this month after a decade in the former 1850 bank building.

“We’re trying to re-create Tondee’s Tavern, which was the place in Savannah in the late 1700s,” Tuten said. “We’re trying to bring an old Savannah landmark back to life.”

Local real estate agents Rhett Mouchet and Kim Iocovozzi, both with Judge Realty, brokered the deal. Tuten’s lease on the 4,500-square-foot space will run 10 years, with an option to buy the building.

Tondee’s Tavern will offer fresh local seafood, ribs and steaks in a casual atmosphere. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and stay open until 2:30 a.m. on the weekends to accommodate the bar crowd.

“When visitors come to Savannah, they want to enjoy local food, not something a franchise ships in a box,” Tuten said.

Tuten is a Savannah native who currently operates Dillinger's restaurant in Oglethorpe Mall.


New Lexus dealership to open on Hwy. 278 in S.C.

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If Jim Mollica gets his Christmas wish, the new Lexus dealership on U.S. 278 that will serve the Bluffton-Hilton Head-Hardeeville market will open before the holiday next week.

Workers at the 23,000-square-foot location that sits on three acres in front of Walmart have been working almost around the clock to get the project done. The 14 months it has taken since getting the green light and opening the doors is probably a record, said Mollica, chief operating officer for Toyota, Lexus and Subaru.

He said it typically takes three years to open a new dealership, and customers have been asking for seven or eight years to get a dealership that serves that area in South Carolina.

Mollica said last week they received a call from someone who wanted to make an appointment at the new dealership because he wanted to get the first oil change.

“We all want it done before Christmas,” Mollica said.

Armstrong Atlantic State University student Justin Brown, who grew up in Savannah, was busy painting last week. He was chosen from other local artists to put his touch on the dealership and also painted the ceiling in the service drop-off area.

The Hilton Head Lexus dealership was awarded to Chatham Parkway Lexus of Savannah by Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales, and represents a $6.5 million investment. It will employ about 40 people.

Mollica said the dealership still needs sales and service people. There will be five service advisers and Mollica anticipates customers from Beaufort and other areas will start coming to the new dealership because it is more convenient than going to the Savannah location.

Mollica lives in Bluffton and said he plans to spend a day a week working at the new location.

“Lexus is a market leader. We will increase our reach and provide great customer service with this location,” he said.

A lot of the people who will work at the new location have been training and working at the Chatham dealership.

The new location will focus on customers’ convenience and when they come for service, they will be offered free manicures, an espresso bar, flat-screen TVs and other amenities already available at the dealership on Chatham Parkway.

Mollica said last fall, when the new dealership was approved, that business at the Chatham location had been really good and the time was right to open a dealership to serve the South Carolina market.

He said they have worked for about two years to make the dealership a reality.

About $400,000 was spent on equipment for the shop, Mollica said, and the upstairs has an additonal 3,000 square feet that can be used for growth.

A formal grand opening probably will take place in February, but for now, getting the dealership open by Tuesday is the goal.

Exchange in brief

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Southeast executives hopeful on inflation

The prospect of a fiscal cliff may be hanging over business executives in the Southeastern U.S., but they’re less worried about inflation, according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Representatives of the 207 firms questioned in the second week of December anticipate a 1.9 percent inflation rate for the coming 12 months. That’s a drop from their average of 2.1 percent in the prior month’s survey and is roughly in line with what most private economists anticipate.

The executives also reported improvement in their companies’ sales and profit margins, a rebound from earlier in the fall.

On average, sales are still 7.7 percent below normal. Companies with more than 500 employees show sales are off just 5 percent, while those with fewer than 100 workers are struggling with a sales gap more than twice as large.

More than one-third said they are working employees longer hours than usual. Typically in a recovery, increased hours is an early sign that companies will have to add workers.

Nebraska company plans S.C. plant

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Nebraska company will create nearly 90 jobs when it builds a cold-storage warehouse in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Commerce Department said Wednesday that Millard Refrigerated Services will build the distribution facility in North Charleston.

The company will spend $42 million on the plant that will employ 87 people.

The plant will freeze and store poultry, pork and beef products for export.

Work on the building should begin in the spring, with hiring to start in the summer. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2014.

The Omaha, Neb., company was founded in 1963 and has three dozen facilities in North America.

Church group makes donation to hospice

Not-for-profit Hospice Savannah Inc. has received a check for $3,000 from the St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Society of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. The money represented partial proceeds from the church’s 10th annual International Food and Wine Festival and silent auction on Sept. 8.

The society designated the funds to be used for Hospice Savannah’s annual Camp Aloha, an overnight grief camp that offers therapeutic coping tools for children and youth ages 6 through 17 who have a lost a loved one.

For more information about the 2013 camp, go to www.hospicesavannah.org/campaloha or call Full Circle bereavement counselor Barbara Moss at 912-303-9442.

Cheap, fast and awesome -- pick two

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When writing about technology for small businesses, there’s a fine line between reality and fantasy. Talking about the latest and greatest trends is one thing, but finding room for them in the budget is often quite another.

And then there’s “time.” I’ve never, ever met a small business owner who said “Wow, I just have tons of free time to try new strategies.”

A friend (Stuart Lathrop) once gave me one of my favorite truth snippets: “Fast, cheap, correct ... pick two.” He said he got it from a business mentor several years ago, who I assume got it from someone else. It’s probably traced all the way back to Sun Tzu, Alexander the Great or some other brilliant source of wisdom.

In my line of work (building websites and handling digital presences), the client is usually in charge of “correct,” so I changed my last bullet point to “awesome,” which I think does a decent job of getting the point across.

I can’t tell you how many people come to me after they’ve had a bad experience in which someone promised them all three things.

Intuit’s website product comes to mind. They’re only a few bucks a month and the website gets set up quickly, but “awesome” is rarely a word I hear thrown around regarding their product.

It’s not just websites; it’s almost anything. If you are having a new home built, you can get it done fast, but if it’s awesome, I bet it isn’t cheap.

How about auto mechanics? Even if you have a friend who fixes cars and who will fix yours for free, I bet they take forever to get over to your house to look at the problem. You probably have to ask them several times. The result? Cheap. Awesome. Not Fast.

My point in all this is simple expectation management, and it can give you an edge when negotiating with service providers and vendors (on both sides of the negotiating table, by the way). If you’re planning a website, building a home or having someone fix your car, the end result is a function of these three variables: time, cost and quality.

Ultimately, you need to know what you want, and defaulting to “the best” just isn’t specific enough.

“The best” doesn’t take into account all of the variables that come into play when making a big purchase or decision, because there is rarely a clear winner on all fronts.

If you find yourself confronting a decision that falls into this category, be sure to know which of the three you’re sacrificing. This will help you stay on top of the other two factors you’re receiving.

My personal favorite combo is fast and awesome, but only when I’m not the one paying.

Jesse Bushkar is the CEO of Sysconn New Media Inc. He can be contacted at 912-356-9920 or jesse@sysconn.com.

Creative Coast leader resigns to take similar job in Cincinnati

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Jake Hodesh spearheaded The Creative Coast’s transition from a neglected arm of the Savannah Economic Development Authority to an independent and proactive advocate for the local creative community in a span of two years.

On Wednesday, Hodesh announced he is moving on to a new challenge.

Hodesh resigned his position with The Creative Coast to accept an executive role with a similar entrepreneurial organization in his hometown of Cincinnati. Hodesh will start with Cintrifuse in February and serve as the group’s director of mentorship.

Cintrifuse is a corporate-led group aiming to grow the innovation economy in Cincinnati. With funding from Cincinnati-based corporations Proctor & Gamble and Kroger as well as the University of Cincinnati, Cintrifuse plans “to boost options in the region and establish a more vibrant networking environment for local entrepreneurs.”

“I’ve enjoyed every moment in Savannah, and I’m thrilled with how much progress we’ve made in such a short time attracting entrepreneurs to the area,” said Hodesh, who noted he and his wife are excited about the opportunity to live close to their families in Ohio.

Under Hodesh, The Creative Coast implemented several entrepreneurial and mentorship events aimed at start-up and early-stage business, including the FastPitch Competition, StartUp Lounge Savannah and TEDxCreativeCoast.

Hodesh also reached out to existing businesses in the community to assist them in working with local government and identifying financing options as well as other forms of support. He also was instrumental in instituting The Creative Coast’s “Free Advice Friday” sessions, a monthly open house where successful local entrepreneurs shared time and knowledge with the public.

The Creative Coast is credited with consulting with more than 400 local companies and individuals and helped fill 140 local jobs through its website during Hodesh’s tenure.

While his departure is a loss for the local community, it is a compliment as well, according to Susan Isaacs, chair of The Creative Coast’s board of directors.

“The fact that Jake was recruited underscores the fact that The Creative Coast is doing strong, impressive work and capturing national attention,” Isaacs said. “We’re on the right path and must continue the good work.”

The Creative Coast board immediately will launch a search for Hodesh’s successor. The group’s staff, including program director Charisse Bennett, will remain with the organization.

Hodesh has become a fixture in the local business community since Hurricane Katrina prompted him and his wife, Miriam, to leave New Orleans for Savannah in 2007. The Hodeshes launched New Moon of Savannah, a company dedicated to developing community-centered programs and events, shortly after moving to town.

The Savannah Market Bazaar was one of their early projects, and they teamed with another local entrepreneur, Brad Baugh, to start Refuel Savannah. The business recycled cooking grease from River Street restaurants into biodiesel fuel for vehicles.

The Hodeshes also teamed with Sloane Kelley to co-found Geekend, an annual interactive technology conference, in 2009. The Hodeshes left the Geekend organization earlier this year because of time issues.

Miriam Hodesh is a community relations specialist with Gulfstream.

Savannah-based Gulfstream delivers first G650

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Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. delivered its first fully outfitted ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650 on Thursday.

The highly anticipated business jet, whose maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.925 makes it the fastest certified civilian aircraft in production, was delivered to a U.S. customer.

“We’re extremely proud of this aircraft and the work that’s been done by the G650 design, build and supplier teams,” said Gulfstream president Larry Flynn. “The first delivery of an aircraft is always an auspicious occasion, and this one is especially so. This delivery represents the beginning of a new era in aircraft design and manufacturing in terms of quality, capabilities, reliability, parts availability and maintenance activities.

“We’re thrilled to see the first G650 leave our hangar for a customer’s. Soon the G650 will be a common sight at airports around the world,” Flynn said.

Jay L. Johnson, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream’s parent corporation General Dynamics, said the G650 sets a new world standard for business-jet performance, range, speed and comfort.

“I am very proud of the Gulfstream team. They have done a superb job in designing and manufacturing an aircraft that is already the envy of the global market.”

Gulfstream recently announced enhanced performance characteristics for the G650, including more range. The G650 can now travel 6,000 nautical miles at its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, a 1,000-nautical mile increase over the original target of 5,000.

This additional capability makes city pairs such as Tokyo to New York, New York to Dubai, Shanghai to London and Moscow to Los Angeles possible at speeds faster than any other business jet.

Each of the G650’s Rolls-Royce BR725 A1-12 engines provides 16,900 pounds of thrust, yet the aircraft burns less fuel and produces fewer emissions than other aircraft.

The G650 cabin includes a number of technologically advanced systems, including the Gulfstream-designed Cabin Management System, which allows passengers to use personal electronic devices to control the cabin’s high-definition audio and video components as well as lighting, temperature, window shades and other cabin functions, including the Gulfstream CabinView Passenger Flight Information System.

Gulfstream’s Cabin Essential design philosophy means such cabin systems as lighting, power, control, entertainment and the water and waste systems are designed with redundancy that minimizes the risk of losing cabin functionality.

The G650, which earned its type certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in September, still has a backlog of nearly 200 orders with a five-year waiting list.

The business jet, which sells for $64.5 million, is built in Savannah.

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