GBJ Staff

Benefits decisions can’t wait on the Supreme Court

Special Focus:
Protecting and Investing

by Blake Watts

The Supreme Court’s pending decision on the healthcare debate is an issue weighing heavily on the minds of many small business owners and human resources executives contemplating health coverage for employees. As leaders, you are waiting to see what happens with the healthcare law currently under review, thinking the decision will affect your strategy.

The Court’s decision should not matter. Of bigger concern should be your response to the following questions:

  • •Healthcare costs will continue to climb nine to 15 percent. How are you, as a small business owner, planning for this major expense?

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett connects local talent to global business

The collaborative networking luncheon The program a keynote address from AIESEC alumni Peter Stewart, PGi senior vice president of sales, collaboration technology services.

Gwinnett’s Global Business Council, in partnership with The University of Georgia AIESEC Global Exchange, recently co-hosted a networking luncheon event for international executives in Gwinnett and metro Atlanta.

“AISEC helps promote global understanding with culturally aware leaders through international work exchanges,” comments AIESEC-UGA President, Christina Khouri. “Global partners like Coca-Cola, UPS, UniLever, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Microsoft help us achieve our purpose – to connect university students and recent graduates to these and other businesses and creating for them dynamic opportunities for professional growth.”

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GBJ Staff

Five ways to reward great work

by Melissa Doster

In a slowly improving economy, workers are feeling better about their career prospects. Professionals who aren’t satisfied with the level of recognition they receive in their current positions may seek out greener pastures.

A recent OfficeTeam survey reveals that 49 percent of workers would be somewhat or very likely to leave their current positions if they didn’t feel appreciated by their managers. Workers also weigh in on the importance of receiving recognition for doing a good job.

More than one-third of those surveyed prefer tangible rewards, such as financial compensation or gift cards. The remaining respondents split almost evenly in their preferences: 21 percent enjoy opportunities to learn and grow, 19 percent want verbal or written praise and the other 20 percent claim they need no acknowledgment.

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GBJ Staff

Carter’s hiring for Braselton distribution facility

Carter’s, the largest branded marketer of baby and young children’s apparel in the U.S. and headquartered in Atlanta, has selected Braselton, Ga., as the home of its new multichannel distribution center.

Scheduled to open in June, the one-million-square-foot facility will support the company’s e-commerce, retail, and wholesale businesses and create an immediate need for 250 full-time employees. A job fair will be held May 9-12 at the new facility in Braselton. Interested candidates can visit www.carters.com/DCjobs to learn more and apply.

“Carter’s new distribution center will have an immediate, positive impact on the lives of Jackson County residents,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “Encouraging job growth in the state is of the utmost importance, and we are pleased Carter’s has chosen to invest in Georgia and its workforce.”

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GBJ Staff

Forced entrepreneurs

Special Focus: Small Business/ Entrepreneur

What are experienced Gwinnett residents doing when they can’t find a job? An increasing number are buying them.

Today, there is high unemployment among affluent professionals aged 50 to 60 who are not used to being out of jobs. Many are actively exploring the purchase of existing companies to secure their business, personal and financial futures.

According to Kent Reed, business intermediary with Murphy Business & Financial Corporation, the north metro-Atlanta region is seeing a spike in buyers who are turning their talents to businesses of their own instead of returning to the corporate world.

“There are so many ways to make a living, it’s amazing,” says Reed. “Lately, my colleagues and I are running into interesting situations we haven’t seen before on the ‘buy’ side.”

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GBJ Staff

Five ways college students can get ahead

by Andy Decker

Although it may seem like a catch-22 – it’s hard to land a job without experience and hard gain experience without a job – prior work experience is fundamental to help college students get their foot in the door with future employers.

One advantage for students is the availability of internships and temporary work in their fields. Landing these experiences can provide a taste of the working world, help build their resumes and expand their networks.

Following are five ways students can gain relevant experience while in school:
1. Network early and often.
Professionals should build their networks at school, in summer jobs and through internships. Make a point to stay in touch with key advisors and professors. They can be a resource even after you graduate.

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GBJ Staff

Brenau plans M.B.A. program in Gwinnett

Brenau University plans to offer its Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program, starting the fall of 2012, at the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee.

Brenau University President Ed Schrader made the announcement to the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County saying the university is already accepting applications. If approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the new program will also be available to other candidates seeking proficiency in any of several business specialties, including health care, project management, finance, accounting, international business, general management and insurance.

“This new program is a natural extension of the outstanding relationship that exists already between Brenau and GA-PCOM,” says Schrader. “And it provides another convenient location for the market for higher education in Gwinnett County.”

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GBJ Staff

Why small businesses decide not to hire

by Doug and Polly White

There are 22.9 million small businesses in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 90 percent of all net job creation from 1996-2007 came from small businesses. Yet, not all small business owners choose to grow.

During the course of conducting research for our new book, Let Go to GROW: why some businesses thrive and others fail to reach their potential (Palari Publishing 2011), we interviewed over 100 small and midsize business owners. Some pundits subscribe to a mantra that in business you have to grow or die. We found example after example of entrepreneurs who debunk this myth everyday. More than a few had made a conscious decision not to expand their successful companies, based on three primary reasons.
1. To avoid risk and maintain their lifestyle
2. To avoid regulation
3. To avoid having to delegate responsibilities

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GBJ Staff

Promoting a culture of learning

Spectral Response LLC employees Senait Mekuria and Tam Hoang insert components into circuit boards prior to the Wave Solder process.

Spectral Response considers workforce training a top strategic priority for its staff of 132. This Lawrenceville manufacturer and fulfillment solutions provider has instilled a culture of learning that cheerfully ties to a budget line item.

You know you’re dealing with something special when workers track you down begging to earn a slot in the next training session. That’s the sense of satisfaction Laurie Steward gets to experience every day. As human resource manager for Spectral Response, she is both excited and amazed by the positive feedback she receives on the different continuing education, professional development or certification programs the company provides. She credits much of that response on the company’s close relationship with Gwinnett Technical College (GTC).

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GBJ Staff

In business (and life), it pays to keep learning

Special Focus:
Executive/Continuing Education

Gwinnett County offers a wealth of educational resources, many of which cater to the working adult who seeks professional development, continuing education to learn new skills or an advanced degree.

The Gwinnett business community has laid the groundwork for cultivating solid training opportunities through its collaboration with both private and public sector education entities. From workforce development programs like Georgia Quick Start and Georgia Work Ready, to executive leadership training and special interest pursuits, Gwinnett offers an attractive business climate by virtue of these convenient and easily accessed training solutions.

Read the following articles that underscore how Gwinnett meets the training needs of adults for business and industry:

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