(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nash-Finch Company (Nasdaq:NAFC), a Minneapolis-based food distributor, yesterday announced the acquisition of a 400,000 sq. ft. warehouse distribution facility in Columbus, Georgia for its distribution business serving military commissaries and exchanges, representing a $20 million investment in the first three years of operation. The distribution center will be operated by MDV, which is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and recognized as one of the premier distributors worldwide providing service to military commissaries and exchanges.
“Our purpose at MDV is to serve our armed service heroes and their families, whether at home or abroad, by supplying products needed by the military to provide one of their most important benefits – the commissary,” stated Ed Brunot, President and Chief Operating Officer of MDV. Brunot continued, “This new Columbus distribution center complements our military distribution centers in the Southeast, allowing us to better serve the commissaries in that region. We look forward to joining the Columbus business community and hope to be able to add members of the Fort Benning community to our MDV family of associates. We appreciate the efforts of the City, the Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce, whose assistance was invaluable in making this acquisition a reality.”
The new Columbus MDV distribution center is scheduled to begin making deliveries to commissaries in the late third or fourth quarter of 2010.
“In a state known for its twelve active military installations and commitment to service personnel and their families, Georgia is proud to be the new home of this MDV facility that will allow commissaries to better serve families at Fort Benning and beyond,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “I join the Columbus community in celebrating the opening of this new distribution facility, and look forward to the positive economic impact for this area.”
A ceremony to celebrate the acquisition took place on December 17, 2009, at the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce located at 1200 6th Avenue in Columbus. Local dignitaries, including Mayor Jim Wetherington; Dick Ellis, Chairman of the Development Authority of Columbus, Russ Carreker, Chamber Chairman, and Mike Gaymon, President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, were in attendance. MDV representatives at the event were Ed Brunot, MDV President and COO, John Hird, MDV, Vice President of Distribution and Logistics, Jon Kitts, Vice President of Customer Service and Business Development, and Bo Stuart, Sr. Distribution Director - Columbus.
“Nash Finch is an exciting addition to our community,” said Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington. “The new jobs being created will provide the region with new opportunities at a time when job growth has been tight. Congratulations and thank you for choosing Columbus as the home of your new facility.”
“Today’s announcement is exciting for our region,” concluded Russ Carreker, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. “Today is a good example of what team work can accomplish. In the latest Manpower survey, Columbus MSA was number one in the country for job outlook in first quarter 2010. Projects like today will keep us on top of the chart. Columbus is on a roll. We look forward to seeing this project succeed.”
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Nash Finch Company Announces Acquisition of Distribution Center in Columbus, Georgia
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Synovus Reaffirms Capital Position
(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to recent questions, Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE: SNV) today (November 13) reaffirms that it is not under a regulatory requirement to raise additional capital. The company’s capital position remains strong. Synovus is considered well-capitalized by regulatory standards and its ratios compare favorably to those of its peers. As of September 30, 2009, Synovus’ Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 10.48 percent compared to the regulatory minimum of 6.00 percent to be considered well-capitalized. The company’s Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 13.84 percent is well above regulatory minimums of 10.00 percent.
Synovus Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony commented, “Synovus continues to manage credit in a proactive and aggressive manner. Given our strength of capital combined with our continued focus on disposing of non-performing assets and improvements in core operating results, we remain confident in our belief that we have the opportunity to achieve profitability during 2010.”
Forward Looking Statements
This press release and certain of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, our statements regarding our belief in our opportunity to achieve profitability during 2010 and the assumptions underlying our expectations. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward- looking statements in this press release and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these factors are beyond Synovus’ ability to control or predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in this press release and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission include the factors set forth in Synovus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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Friday, October 30, 2009
NCR Opens New ATM Manufacturing Facility in Columbus, Ga.
(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today (October 29) opens its new ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ga., rolling out its first NCR SelfServ™ ATMs and bringing innovative manufacturing back to North America. In less than five months after announcing plans to build a domestic manufacturing facility, NCR was able to open the 350,000 square-foot facility and begin production of ATM machines for its North American customers.
The company celebrated the opening at its Corporate Ridge Business Park plant with key officials and elected representatives from the City of Columbus and the State of Georgia, who participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the manufacturing plant and an opportunity to see the production of some of the first NCR ATM machines being built at the new site.
NCR has filed for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification—the Green Building Rating System that is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The company has also reused and recycled materials throughout the building, from the initial demolition, such as cinder blocks and carpet.
“Our decision to bring our North American ATM manufacturing in-house was driven by our belief that as self-service ATM technology becomes more innovative and strategic to financial institutions, the ability to control manufacturing in key markets becomes a core and competitive advantage to our growth strategy,” said Peter Dorsman, senior vice president of Global Operations at NCR. “By in-sourcing the production of our SelfServ ATMs, we will decrease time-to-market, improve our internal collaboration, and lower our current operating costs.”
Approximately 870 jobs will be created at a new Columbus, Ga., site over the next three years. With the help of the state and local government, NCR has already hired and trained nearly 120 employees through Georgia’s Quick Start Program – a customized workforce-training program for businesses across the state. Quick Start has been instrumental in supporting NCR to drive comprehensive employee training plans, create assessment programs and establish a mindset in each employee to strive for continuous improvement efforts.
“Georgia’s strategic strengths in advanced manufacturing will help drive the success of NCR’s new facility in Columbus,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We have an innovative edge here in Georgia that has enabled companies to thrive, and NCR is a perfect fit as it manufactures its next-generation ATMs and self-serve devices for the North American market.”
The City of Columbus offered a location with a talented workforce, close proximity to major transportation hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and many of Georgia’s highly esteemed academic institutions. The new facility is also close to NCR’s innovation center in Duluth, Ga., and the company’s global customer service organization in Peachtree City, Ga.
In addition, NCR’s campus-like ecosystem between its partners, suppliers and Georgia’s academic institutions will help drive and improve cross-functional collaboration, training and innovation -- ensuring that NCR’s manufacturing process is cutting edge.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Aflac Lands on Black Enterprise Magazine's List of 40 Best Companies for Diversity
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac today announced that the Georgia-based insurance provider has been named to Black Enterprise magazine's list of the Top 40 Best Companies for Diversity. It is the fifth consecutive year the company has been named to the prestigious list.
Aflac, with an employee base comprised of 40 percent minorities, and women accounting for more than half of the management team, will be listed in the magazine's July issue, appearing on newsstands on June 30. Nearly 70 percent of Aflac's overall workforce is women.
"Our commitment to diversity has created an environment where wide-ranging ideas have helped our company grow," Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We embrace the good fortune of a diverse workforce and are proud of this recognition by Black Enterprise's magazine."
According to the magazine, Aflac demonstrates strength and outperformed peers in three of four key categories, including diversity on the Board of Directors, employee base, senior management and supplier diversity. The 40 best companies for diversity were determined through a survey of major corporations coupled with comprehensive outreach to CEOs and diversity executives working at the top 1,000 publicly traded companies and diversity executives at the 50 leading global companies with strong U.S. operations.
Aflac is one of only three Georgia companies to appear on the 2009 list.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NCR to Build Innovation Hub and Manufacturing Plant in Brazil, Boosting Jobs in the High Tech Segment
(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) announced today that it will create a new manufacturing and research and development center in Brazil to produce technologically advanced, high availability automated teller machines (ATMs) for Brazil, Latin America, and Caribbean markets. The innovation center and manufacturing facility will expand over time to include self-service technologies for a variety of industries.
The new innovation hub will initially create approximately 250 new jobs and enable NCR to deliver world-class solutions and strengthen its competitive position in Brazil, which is a key market in NCR’s growth strategy. Brazil is the third largest ATM market in the world. Retail Banking Research predicts that the Brazil ATM market will grow 16 percent by 2012.
“NCR has been doing business in Brazil for 73 years," said Bill Nuti, NCR’s chairman and chief executive officer. "Our strategic decision to develop an innovation and manufacturing hub for self-service technology in Brazil is yet another step in our commitment to this important market. This investment will move us further towards our goal of becoming Brazil's largest self-service solutions provider and the leader in ATM market share. With this new capability, we believe we will be better positioned to take market share by providing leading hardware, software and service solutions, tailored specifically to meet the needs of our customers and fulfilling our goals of growing our business, while lowering our operating costs. As we invest and create high tech jobs, we will continue to look at our options for further investment in this vital emerging market.”
NCR’s ATM production in the region is currently outsourced to a contract manufacturer. ATM manufacturing and product development will be moved to NCR’s new facility and production is anticipated to begin by December 2009.
NCR will initially invest over R$73 million in building its capabilities in Brazil. The company will manufacture NCR SelfServ, the industry’s newest range of ATMs that are proven to have the highest levels of performance and availability for consumers. In addition, NCR will look to design and engineer specific products to meet the needs of our customers in Brazil.
Financial institutions in Brazil have large ATM estates and require custom design ATMs to deliver their branded look and feel; others require features such as biometric identification and check printers, while all require some variation of high security features.
Earlier this month, NCR announced it will establish a new North American ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ga., creating 870 new jobs that did not exist in NCR previously. All North American ATM manufacturing will take place from the Columbus facility, which will begin ATM production early in the fourth quarter 2009.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Aflac Lands on List of 100 Best Corporate Citizens
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac Incorporated was named to Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) magazine's list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2009. The survey ranks Russell 1000(R) companies on their performance in seven key areas: environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations, financial and governance. Aflac was tied for first place with several other companies under the category of corporate governance. The full list was announced on Friday, March 6, and will appear in the next issue of the magazine.
The 2009 100 Best Corporate Citizens List(R) methodology is based solely on publicly-available data, putting a premium on companies with high levels of public disclosure and transparency. All members of the Russell 1000 Index were considered for the honor.
"At Aflac we believe that transparency with shareholders and the public is good for business," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We are proud to receive this recognition, which focuses on our company's enthusiasm for disclosing information and demonstrating strong corporate ethics."
"In good times, checkbook citizenship can win the day. But in tough times, strong reputations and transparency pack as much punch as a strong balance sheet. In today's deep recession, human capital and financial capital seek safety -- and companies like Aflac that are on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List(R) are today's safest harbors," said CRO magazine publisher Jay Whitehead.
The Russell 1000 Index measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. It is a subset of the Russell 3000(R) Index and includes approximately 1000 of the largest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Aflac Chairman & CEO Will Forgo 2008 Bonus of $2.8 Million
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, Inc. announced today that Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has elected to forgo his 2008 bonus of $2.8 million that he earned based on achievement of operating performance measures. The board's compensation committee accepted his proposal recognizing that, although Aflac delivered a strong operating performance in 2008, it is not reflected in the company's stock price given the current turbulence in the stock markets.
In addition, Kriss Cloninger III, Aflac Incorporated President and Chief Financial Officer, voluntarily reduced his bonus by 35% or approximately $477,000.
"Even though Mr. Amos and Mr. Cloninger were entitled to their full operating bonuses -- and in 2008 Aflac outperformed the S&P 500, the S&P Life Index and the Dow -- the board agreed to accept their proposals," said Aflac Incorporated board member Robert B. "Ben" Johnson, chairman of the Compensation Committee. "We support their decision to voluntarily reduce their personal compensation as a demonstration of their commitment to our shareholders."
In 2008, Amos received a salary of $1.3 million and Cloninger received a salary of $857,700.
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pratt & Whitney Completes First International Aero Engines V2500 SelectOne Retrofit
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney's Columbus Engine Center has become the first in the world to retrofit an International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-A5 engine to the V2500 SelectOne(TM) engine. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)
Benefits of the retrofit include up to an additional one percent lower fuel burn, and corresponding lower CO2 emissions, as well as noise reduction and lower overall operating costs. The V2500-A5 engine, registration V10301, which belongs to US Airways, has been in service since Feb. 16, 1998. It has more than 38,000 hours on wing with nearly 15,000 cycles.
"This retrofit is important because it shows airlines that it is possible to get even greater performance from one of their existing assets," said Tom Mayes, vice president, Global Engine Centers, Pratt & Whitney. "Providing this service results in up to an additional one percent fuel burn saving that can go right to the bottom line for airlines, at a time when the aviation environment is especially challenging, is rewarding. We take pride in helping our customers lower their operating costs."
The Columbus Engine Center opened in 1984 and has capabilities to service both V2500-A1 and -A5 engines. The 215,000 sq. ft -facility can overhaul up to 300 engines per year. The center offers a variety of services including heavy maintenance, hot section refurbishment, module repair, inspection, performance enhancements and engine testing.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2009
JEM Restaurant Group Acquires 40 Pizza Hut Restaurants
/PRNewswire/ -- JEM Restaurant Group announced today that it has acquired 40 Pizza Hut restaurants located in the Georgia markets of Columbus and Macon, as well as the Jacksonville, Florida market. The assets purchased include real estate, leasehold interests and restaurant operating equipment. The purchase price was not disclosed.
JEM Restaurant Group, headquartered in Charleston, SC and owned by John McGrath, operates over 100 Taco Bell and Pizza Hut franchised restaurants in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The 40 unit acquisition was tendered under a new operating entity, Southeastern Pizza Group, LLC.
"This is a unique opportunity in a very difficult operating environment," Mr. McGrath stated. "We believe the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands are well positioned in the marketplace and our parent company, YUM! Brands, has excellent leadership at its helm. Pizza Hut continues to introduce compelling new menu offerings of great quality food at attractive price points."
"JEM Restaurant Group is teaming up with the former COO of Pizza Hut, Jerry Buss, to assemble an outstanding team of restaurant operators to run the 40 Pizza Hut restaurants in Southeastern Pizza Group," added Mr. McGrath.
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Aflac Named America's Best Managed Company for Insurance Industry by Forbes.com
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been named to the Forbes.com list of America's Best Managed Companies for 2008. The insurance giant was also included in Forbes's list of the 400 Best Big Companies, based on sales and earnings growth, debt to total capital, earnings outlook and stock market returns. Editors rate companies on one- and five-year data, considering both long-term success and latest performance. Guided by these rankings and other data, one company is chosen as the best managed for each industry.
"It is an honor to be recognized by Forbes.com as one of America's best managed companies. It illustrates management's commitment to the company's core values and the financial strength of the company," said Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos.
This year marks the ninth time that Aflac has been included on the Forbes.com list of 400 Best Big Companies. The list of 400 Best Big Companies and America's Best Managed Companies is available at www.forbes.com.
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Saturday, November 1, 2008
TSYS to Expand Global Payment Capabilities with Acquisition of Infonox
(BUSINESS WIRE)--TSYS announced today that it will acquire Infonox, a privately owned California-based technology firm with payments expertise, leading-edge technology and a focused methodology to deliver rapid-to-market solutions. The acquisition is expected to be completed the week of November 3, 2008.
This acquisition will add valuable new payment technology and acceptance capabilities that elevate TSYS in its mission to move any payment form, through any payment device, anywhere in the world, over any network.
The company will be known as Infonox, a TSYS company. Its “plug-and-play” platforms simplify the acceptance of payment forms to include, but not limited to: debit, credit, prepaid, money transfer and checks; it also offers new connectivity interfaces to multiple payment devices and new channels of service delivery such as mobile phones, ATMs and bill-pay kiosks.
Infonox also provides a proprietary end-to-end tool to manage the lifecycle of a merchant so businesses can better engage, serve and retain their customers.
“TSYS’ acquisition of Infonox will add a Silicon-valley innovation team to our arsenal,” said Philip W. Tomlinson, chief executive officer of TSYS. “It provides a host of tools and services that will be very attractive to clients of TSYS Acquiring Solutions and technologies we believe will add increased value to our clients across the TSYS enterprise.”
“This is much more than just an acquisition,” said Dr. Safwan Shah, president and chief executive officer of Infonox. “The synergy Infonox has achieved through the partnership with TSYS presents us with a tremendous opportunity to grow our business and take our products and services to new levels of penetration.”
Dr. Shah will remain with Infonox as president, reporting to Robert J. Philbin, president of TSYS Acquiring Solutions.
“Infonox provides a comprehensive suite of services to manage the lifecycle of a merchant, the lifecycle of a transaction and the lifecycle of a customer. Together we will deliver solutions-on-demand that include a full-range of POS product offerings and payment acceptance forms, more efficient sales and merchant activation tools, enhanced portfolio management, reporting tools and an integrated suite of workflow tools to drive greater back-office efficiency,” said Mr. Philbin.
Infonox offers an array of payment products on self-service and full-service transaction touch points in the gaming, banking and retail markets. The company delivers, manages, operates and supports services for several large publicly traded companies.
Highlights:
* Infonox software platform is used for managing a merchant portfolio from sales to profitability. Thousands of merchants and acquirers get up-to-the-second information on their business.
* Infonox software platform is used to process checks (personal, payroll), intercept and switch ATMs, conduct debit and credit transactions, process instant loans, facilitate bill payments, carry out money transfers, issue and dispense prepaid cards, and more.
* Infonox technology enables connection to any back end processor and payment brands or networks.
Established in 1999, Infonox is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., with an additional office in Pune, India.
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Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Nurses Report Quality Health Benefits Key to Choosing an Employer
/PRNewswire/ -- As more hospitals ramp up efforts to attract and retain quality nursing staffs, a new survey(i) by insurance provider Aflac finds that 86 percent of nurses say a hospital's benefit package is one of the most important factors when determining where they choose to work, and more than half report they would switch jobs solely based on an employer's benefits.
In fact, three-quarters of the registered nurses surveyed say they would prefer to work for an employer that provides voluntary insurance policies, including insurance for short-term disability. Additionally, the vast majority of the randomly polled nurses (87 percent) believe that voluntary insurance is an important factor when evaluating a current or potential employer.
The survey findings come at a time when American hospitals are facing critical nursing shortages: The Journal of the American Medical Association(ii) has forecasted that by 2020, the number of registered nurses will fall short of demand by 20 percent.
"These findings underscore the positive response we've seen among employees with access to voluntary insurance," said Paul S. Amos II, president, Aflac; COO, U.S. Operations. "Not only can voluntary insurance help nurses manage their health care expenses, but it can also have a positive impact on hospitals' recruitment and retention efforts."
Other survey highlights include:
-- 66 percent of nurses say a voluntary insurance package would positively impact their decision to remain with an employer
-- 64 percent of nurses who currently have voluntary insurance policies are unwilling to go without them
-- 54 percent of nurses say that voluntary insurance would improve their benefits package
-- 89 percent of nurses believe that as health care costs rise in the coming years, voluntary insurance will become even more important
-- 47 percent would consider switching jobs if their new employer made voluntary insurance plans available
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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Buffalo Rock Columbus Named Pepsi-Cola's Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year
PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pepsi-Cola North America (PCNA) has named Buffalo Rock of Columbus, Georgia its Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year for 2007. Named for PepsiCo's former chairman and founder, this is the highest honor bestowed upon PCNA's bottling partners.
Accompanied by PCNA President Hugh Johnston, Mr. Kendall presented the award to James C. Lee III, the franchise's president and CEO, at a ceremony during PCNA's national bottler meeting at PCNA's Purchase, N.Y. headquarters last night.
Bottler of the Year finalists are nominated based on key criteria, including customer service, community support, volume and sales growth, quality standards and performance against the company's strategic imperatives.
Together with Division General Manager Barry Hayes, EVP and COO Matthew Dent, Lee has led Buffalo Rock, Columbus to a great record of recent success, with a three-year compound annual growth of 10% between 2004 and 2007. In 2007, Buffalo Rock, Columbus really came to play, growing its non-carbonated beverage volume by 27.5% and increasing its Lipton tea business by triple-digits. Overall per capita consumption in Buffalo Rock Columbus' territory rose by more than 10 percent in 2007.
"When you talk about Buffalo Rock of Columbus, you're talking about a great competitor," Johnston said. "Really, this is a bottler who is truly among the best of the best every year, and they prove it every day in a tough competitive environment. PCNA wouldn't be what it is without its valued bottling partners and we are honored to have a bottler like Buffalo Rock on our side. Nobody embodies the spirit of a champion -- what we call 'that Pepsi spirit' -- quite like Jimmy Lee, Matthew Dent, Barry Hayes and everybody at Buffalo Rock, Columbus. They make the entire Pepsi system very proud."
In recognition of their generous support, Pepsi-Cola North America presents each finalist with a $5,000 Donald M. Kendall Community Grant. With that, Buffalo Rock Columbus has made a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Chattahoochee Valley, a charitable organization whose mission is to gather food and feed the hungry. The organization provides service to 13 countries in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama.
Other finalists for the award included Arctic Beverage Limited of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Lane Affiliated Companies Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Yuma, Arizona; and Pepsi Bottling Group of Texas.
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Introduces Blue View Vision(SM)
PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) is now offering an affordable and flexible vision plan, Blue View Vision, which provides access to more than 600 network providers in Georgia and to more than 44,000 providers and provider locations nationwide.
The Blue View Vision network includes ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. In addition to private practitioners, Blue View Vision's broad national network includes retailers like LensCrafters(R), Target(R) Optical, JC Penney(R) Optical, Sears Optical and Pearle Vision locations.
"When employees get the vision care they need, productivity increases. And when vision care is covered by the Blue View Vision(SM) plan, employees can get quality care quickly and conveniently," said Monye Connolly, president, BCBSGa.
Blue View Vision members are entitled to a number of important benefits and discounts on products and services, including comprehensive eye examinations and coverage for lenses and frames or contact lenses. Members also enjoy additional savings of up to 40 percent on the purchase of extra pairs of eyewear, conventional contact lenses, lens treatments, specialized lenses and other non-covered items, even after they've exhausted their covered benefits - kids ages 19 and under get full coverage of Transitions(R) and polycarbonate lenses.
With many provider locations open evenings and weekends, members have greater flexibility and convenience when scheduling appointments. And since so many people buy glasses on evenings and weekends, Blue View Vision customer service is available seven days a week to answer customer questions.
As the work force ages, Blue View Vision coverage can help maintain employee productivity. The National Eye Institute estimates that more than 38 million Americans age 40 and older experience blindness, low vision or an age-related eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts.
"An eye exam is one of the best forms of preventive medicine today. An integrated health benefits plan that includes medical and vision coverage provides consumers with important preventative services with a focus on overall well-being and good health," added Connolly. "BCBSGa offers employers a single source for a comprehensive, competitive total insurance package that can help them to recruit, engage and retain employees."
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Aflac Named a Best Place to Launch a Career by BusinessWeek Magazine
PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been named a top 119 company for entry-level workers in BusinessWeek's 2008 Best Places to Launch a Career listing. In a special online report, the magazine noted the insurer's internship program for college students, company benefits and advancement opportunities through leadership development training as favorites among new professionals entering the workforce.
"We strive to create a work environment at Aflac that not only supports employees in starting a new profession, but also in building a long-term career within the company," said Sharon Douglas, vice president and chief people officer, Human Resources. "It is a special honor to be recognized by BusinessWeek as a top workplace, particularly as more companies find innovative ways to become an employer of choice."
In determining the top companies, BusinessWeek used a three-part methodology that included feedback from three different sources. First, the magazine surveyed directors of undergraduate career services to find out which employers were creating excitement among students on campus. Next, finalists were asked to complete a questionnaire about pay, benefits, retention and training programs, which was then compared to other employers in the same industry. Finally, Universum Communications, a Philadelphia research company supplied data from its survey of more than 37,000 U.S. undergrads about the finalists at the top of their list of most desirable employers.
"In this challenging environment, companies are finding inventive ways to attract, retain and motivate their youngest employees," said John Burn, executive editor of BusinessWeek during a podcast discussion on the listing.
Aflac has a University Relations program dedicated to helping the company successfully attract the most outstanding new talent. Through this program, the company offers paid internships and co-ops, including housing for college students. In 2008, Aflac partnered with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce to launch the city's Young Professional's organization that is designed to provide networking opportunities throughout the area for registered members. Additionally, Aflac's on-site career development courses and Leadership Academy are counted among the top training programs in the country.
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Thursday, September 4, 2008
LATINA Style Applauds Aflac for Its Commitment to Workforce Diversity
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has been recognized among the corporate elite in the 2008 LATINA Style 50 Report, which sets the standard for corporate America's sensitivity to Latinas' needs and goals in the workplace identifying companies that provide the best career opportunities for Latinas in the United States.
This year, the magazine's annual awards ceremony will celebrate its 11- year anniversary and honor the LATINA Style 50 companies during a Diversity Leaders Conference on February 5, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
"It is a great honor for the Aflac family to be recognized among LATINA Style's 50 best companies in America for the ninth year," said Brenda Mullins, second vice president and diversity officer for Aflac Human Resources. "We value our talented and diverse workforce and pride ourselves in creating an environment that fosters career advancement opportunities for all our employees."
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News to Use in Fayette, Columbus, Atlanta and the rest of Georgia
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Synovus Named to Georgia Trend’s List of “Georgia’s Top 100 Companies”
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synovus (NYSE: SNV), the Columbus, Georgia-based financial services company has once again been named to “Georgia’s Top 100 Companies” list by Georgia Trend magazine. Synovus ranks number 19 on the list in the magazine’s August 2008 issue.
“We are honored to be recognized by Georgia Trend along with so many other successful companies throughout the state,” said Synovus Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony.
“Georgia has a wealth of solid, diverse organizations that continue to significantly contribute to its long-term financial stability.”
The annual performance list includes the leading public companies headquartered in the state and ranks them based on revenue as of December 31, 2007. The lists of the top 50 public and top 50 private companies are also available on the magazine’s website at www.georgiatrend.com.
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Saturday, June 7, 2008
Synovus Plans to Combine National Bank of Walton County with AFB&T
BUSINESS WIRE--Synovus (NYSE: SNV), the Columbus, Georgia-based financial services company, today announced plans to combine the assets of two Synovus banks: National Bank of Walton County (NBWC), based in Monroe, Georgia with Athens First Bank and Trust (AFB&T), headquartered in Athens, Georgia. Synovus expects to complete the transfer of assets later this year, pending regulatory approval. The combined assets will be managed under the name of AFB&T.
“Since these two banks operate in the same geographic area, sometimes overlapping in their service to customers, it is a natural fit to combine their resources under one name,” said Fred L. Green III, President and COO of Synovus. “Bringing together the teams at each bank will leverage Synovus’ presence in this market and offer customers increased access to bank offices and continued use of the diversified products and services they enjoy today.”
J. William “Bill” Douglas will continue in his role as President and CEO of the expanded AFB&T. Benjamin E. “Ben” Garrett, current President and CEO of NBWC, will transition into an executive leadership role with AFB&T. Once the transfer of assets is complete, AFB&T will have a total asset size of $1.6 billion with 19 locations and 323 team members with a full range of products and services.
“Customers of NBWC will now be doing business with AFB&T but will still enjoy the same local relationships with the expert bankers they know and trust, plus access to more locations, capital and products,” Garrett said.
