Parker’s among fastest growing companies
Parker’s convenience stores have been ranked among Inc. magazine’s 500|5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing companies for the third consecutive year.
“As an Inc. 5000 honoree, Parker’s shares a pedigree with Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Jamba Juice, Timberland, Clif Bar, Pandora, Patagonia, Oracle, and other notable alumni,” said Eric Schurenberg, president and editor in chief of Inc.
The ranking is based on percentage revenue growth from 2010 through 2013.
Parker said he still sees “a lot of opportunity in the marketplace. So we’ll continue to pursue aggressive growth by adding resources, increasing our presence and expanding our service offerings.”
Parker’s operates 36 convenience stores in southeast Georgia and South Carolina.
United Community Banks, Inc., declares cash dividend
BLAIRSVILLE — United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI), Georgia’s third-largest bank holding company, announced that its board of directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.03 per common share.
The dividend is payable Oct. 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business Sept. 16.
“I am delighted that we are able to return a portion of our quarterly earnings to our shareholders in the form of a cash dividend,” said President and CEO Jimmy Tallent.
The quarterly cash dividend represents a payout ratio of 11 percent of second quarter 2014 earnings per share.
United Community Banks, Inc. a bank holding company based in Blairsville with $7.4 billion in assets, has an outlet in Savannah.
Georgia Southern engineering programs accredited
STATESBORO — Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology has been granted full accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology.
The recognition is the first national accreditation for the civil, electrical and mechanical engineering bachelor of science programs instituted in 2011.
The accreditation was granted for the maximum term of six years.
For more information, go to ceit.georgiasouthern.edu.
SCANA offers military discount on gas rates
ATLANTA — SCANA Energy (www.scanaenergy.com) has announced it will offer a discount to military service members and their families.
SCANA will discount three cents per therm off its general rate plans. The discount will be available to all active, reserved, retired and disabled service members or their spouses/partners with valid military identification.
In addition to the discount, the company will donate $5 for each new sign-up to the United Service Organizations (USO) of Georgia, Inc.
The offer will be available Sept. 6. To receive the discount, call SCANA Energy 1-877-467-2262.