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PSA from Jackie Johnson, Public Information Officer for Alachua County Public Schools “One of our high schools today received a call from a local business owner who said she’d been contacted by a company called Sports Promotions Network (SPN). SPN’s representative  claimed to be working with the school’s boys basketball program and was soliciting money...

By: Brad Schultz Tuxedo, black tie, dinner dress, 007 duds, penguin suit…whatever you call this formal dress code, odds are you will never look better than when you’re dressed in this smart ensemble. Customarily worn only for events after 6pm, Black Tie is less formal than the white tie/tails combo, but more formal than the...

Most businesses and organizations will face a crisis at some point, whether it’s an on-the-job accident, a CEO scandal or an unflattering viral video about your organization. By preparing for a crisis, your organization will withstand the challenge and may come out stronger in the end. Many organizations take too much time to respond to...

Gainesville Regional Airport officials talked expansion plans at a Wednesday meeting, forecasting changes such as an extended runway, a taller control tower and a revamped passenger terminal. Airport authority chairman Brian Scarborough said that the expansion, enabled by changes to the FAA-required Master Plan, are due to growth in travel volume. Indeed, the number of...

One of a small-business owner’s greatest challenges is attracting and retaining talent. Often, the owner feels a special sense of investment in the company that may not be shared by employees. But what if everyone in your business worked as hard and with the level of commitment of a CEO — or even as an...

Yellow caution tape and sandbags spray-painted orange surround the front doors to the Newberry Road Books A Million. But a big, blue banner assures customers “Yes, we’re still open!” Heavy summer rains recently flooded the storefront and caused about $175,000 of damage, but a local contractor hopes to turn the tides. Chris Pickering with Gainesville...

When Hobby Lobby opened Friday in the space formerly occupied by Stein Mart, a group of protestors wanted to make sure it didn’t happen quietly. More than 50 people lined the corner of Newberry Road and Northwest 62nd Street holding signs with hand-painted slogans such as “Trust women” and “My body, my choice.” The group...

According to the General Accounting Office, only 14 percent of small-business owners provide their employees with any company-sponsored retirement plan. This is a striking figure since more than 50 percent of the private workforce is employed by small businesses, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Business Directory of the Gainesville Chamber...

A large world map on the wall takes center stage in Pam Purvis’ office. She’s the facility manager at Sandvik Mining & Construction, a surface mining equipment assembly company branch in Alachua. The map represents the company’s global reach as it ships multi-million-dollar machines across the world. But in the last year, Purvis has been...

A local car dealership has begun offering free conference room space to nonprofits. Groups can now book meetings at Gatorland Toyota, located at 2985 N. Main St. Spokeswoman Ellen Walther said the facility, available for reservation during the dealership’s business hours,  includes a 32-seat conference room and attached kitchen with microwave, refrigerator and tables and...