Pharmacy schedules health fair for Friday

Richmond Hill Pharmacy, located in Towne Center at 2409 Highway 17, will hold their ninth annual health fair on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free blood pressure and glucose testing will be offered, along with free glucose meter upgrades. Flu vaccinations will be offered for $25 and pneumonia vaccinations for $35 with a doctor’s prescription. The vaccinations are free for Medicare patients who bring their Medicare card. Zostavax, the vaccination for shingles, will also be available with a doctor’s prescription.

This year, Richmond Hill Pharmacy has joined the Million Hearts Campaign, a national initiative aimed at preventing a million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. For more information, go to MillionHearts.hhs.gov.

The pharmacy has also teamed up with “A Million More” and their nationwide movement to create awareness about the importance of immunization.

Chamber golf outing scheduled

Along with the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 6th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament — The Chamber Cup, at the Club at Savannah Harbor on Nov. 15.

The course is also home to the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf PGA Tournament; last year’s outing included 30 teams.

The range will open at 10:30 a.m., Carrabba’s Italian Grill will serve lunch in the Club Pavilion beginning at 11 a.m. and tee off will be at 12:30 p.m.

Registration is $600 for a four-person team, time on the practice range, lunch, beverages and inclusion in the Chamber e-newsletter. Registration for the Champions Package, at $750, includes all of those plus sponsorship of a hole and mulligans for the entire team.

Contact Cally D’Angelo at 912-644-6459 or CDAngelo@SavannahChamber.com.

Chamber exec gets national appointment

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced the national reappointment of local chamber president and CEO Bill Miles to its Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.

The Committee of 100 is made up of chamber of commerce chief executives who provide advice to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, enhance chamber lobbying and coalition work, recommend programming and strengthen outreach to the business and chamber community.

Miles has been with the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce for 23 years and has served with several community and national organizations, including the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce.

Locally, Miles serves as secretary of the board of trustees of the Heritage Classic Foundation and is a member of the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Partnership Board.

The Savannah Area Tourism Leadership Council did not go on tour to find its new executive director.

The local tourism industry group known as the TLC didn’t even leave Savannah.

Michael T. Owens, general manager of local hotelier HLC Hotels, will succeed Marti Barrow as TLC executive director on Nov. 9. Barrow announced her resignation last month after six years of leading the organization.

“He was a natural fit for our organization,” said Jack Bussert, president of the TLC’s board of directors. “He has diverse strengths in community relations and advocacy, financial management and oversight, hotel management, food and beverage management.”

Owens has worked with HLC Hotels for 11 years, “starting at the bottom and working the way to the top,” he said. The company owns and operates six historic inns in downtown Savannah, including The Marshall House and the all-suite Oglethorpe Inn & Suites on Hodgson Memorial Drive. HLC Hotels also manages eight Masters Inn properties in the Southeast.

Owens has served on the TLC board of directors since 2010 and the Visit Savannah board for the last year.

“I’m happy to see Michael take the reins at the TLC,” Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli said. “He is a strong leader who will help that organization in its tourism advocacy and front-line service training efforts.”

The TLC boasts close to 250 members from Savannah’s hospitality businesses. The group offers members education and training opportunities, networking socials and special events.

The TLC four-person staff is based out of the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

“The mission of the TLC is vital to our industry,” Owens said. “It is a place for businesses both big and small to work together to ensure hospitality in Savannah is second to none.”

NEW YORK — Facebook’s third-quarter results inched past Wall Street’s expectations, offering evidence that the company is making inroads in mobile advertising — a longtime concern among investors.

The financial results, Facebook’s second as a public company, sent its stock sharply higher in after-hours trading. The stock jumped $1.90, or 9.7 percent, to $21.40 after the announcement. Facebook had closed up 18 cents at $19.50 in regular trading on a day that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop 243 points, or 1.8 percent.

The world’s biggest social media company posted a loss of $59 million, or 2 cents per share, in the July-September period. That’s down from earnings of $227 million, or 10 cents per share a year ago, when Facebook was still privately held.

Excluding special items, mainly related stock compensation expenses, Facebook Inc. earned $311 million, or 12 cents per share, in the latest quarter, a penny better than what analysts were expecting.

Revenue rose 32 percent to $1.26 billion from $954 million.

Analysts had expected earnings of 11 cents per share on revenue of $1.23 billion, according to FactSet.

The company said 604 million of its 1.01 billion users access Facebook using a mobile device.

“People who use our mobile products are more engaged, and we believe we can increase engagement even further as we continue to introduce new products and improve our platform,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a statement. “At the same time, we are deeply integrating monetization into our product teams in order to build a stronger, more valuable company.”

Advertising revenue was $1.09 billion, up 36 percent from a year earlier. It represented about 86 percent of Facebook’s total revenue.

Revenue from payments and other fees climbed 13 percent to $176 million. This figure includes Facebook’s cut from the virtual items people buy for games they pay on the site.

Facebook said it generated 14 percent of its advertising revenue from mobile ads during the quarter. That amounts to about $152.6 million.

Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman said Facebook had a “solid performance” in the third quarter.

Facebook did not provide guidance for the current quarter or beyond, a practice it has maintained since its first earnings report as a public company in late July.

Earlier this year I was invited to present at CityWorks, a conference in Roanoke, Va. The focus of the conference is to enhance connectivity within and between smaller cities and to explore exponential impact across six major themes: Capital and social entrepreneurship, leadership and good government, arts and design, knowledge and new media, outdoors and recreation, and food and drink.

Last Thursday morning I found myself climbing into a rental car with my co-presenter, Tom Kohler. We were presenting on the topic of radical trust. The seven-hour drive was enjoyable, and, for the most part, the changing of the leaves and somewhat empty highways made the journey easy.

Roanoke is smaller than Savannah. And younger. If Savannah can claim the ocean, Roanoke claims a valley surrounded by mountains. We have the river and the port. Roanoke was founded on the power of the rail, and the ever-present sound of trains remains.

Roanoke is beautiful. Their City Market and urban core remain vibrant, and the people are welcoming. Much like Savannah.

Based on the conference, it is obvious small towns throughout the South are focusing on accentuating the positives within their communities and battling to combat the negatives. We met people from Jackson, Miss.; Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Charlottesville, Va., and numerous others from small towns in Alabama, Florida and various states from the West and Northeast.

The various messages and lectures were inspiring, anchoring around ideas of innovation, sustainable development and creative ways to transform our landscape.

Ed Walker, a social entrepreneur and major investor/developer in the Roanoke region, was one of the main hosts for the weekend. Walker has reshaped some of the city’s most significant buildings, breathing life into once defunct neighborhoods and commercial districts.

“I got into real estate development not because I was interested in real estate but because I was interested in community strength and community capital,” said Walker in an interview with the Washington & Lee University School of Law. “It turns out that real estate is a super effective way to do that.”

I spent time wondering if Savannah has anyone with the insight, resources and integrity to focus all their time and energy to redeveloping our community. Many people came to mind, but I couldn’t think of one who was currently investing millions of dollars in an effort to single-handedly change our city. I couldn’t identify our Ed Walker.

I never had the honor of meeting Mills B. Lane, but I have heard stories of him, and I imagine that he and Mr. Walker would have had quite a bit to talk about regarding transforming their respective communities.

One of the major undertones of the conference was co-cooperation between regional governments. We spoke at length with city of Roanoke employees, including their city manager and members of the Roanoke City Council. The common thread was one of mutual understanding.

It seemed to us, as outsiders, that Roanoke’s private, public and nonprofit sectors have an incredible line of communication and all shared the same mission: Move Roanoke Forward! The lasting impression for me was the power of Roanoke, which could be summed up in a single word: Unification.

While Roanoke may have a far way to go, its goals seem to be within reach. Together, it seems, they are moving in the right direction. Together, Savannah. Together.

We will have important choices to make in the coming years, including whom we elect to our City Council and our county commission and whom we pick as our next city manager. I suggest that paramount to the selection or election of these individuals is this notion of togetherness. If we work together, harnessing the strengths of our individual offices toward a shared set of values, we can reach our goals.

If we remain divided over simple issues, we will watch towns like Roanoke pass us by.

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.

The Georgia Power Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the West Broad Street YMCA on Tuesday. Georgia Power spokeswoman Swann Seiler presented the check to Peter Doliber, executive director of the organization.

A Georgia Power news releaser said the donation is to help the West Broad Street YMCA in its continuing outreach to the community through programs that help end generational poverty.

Since January of 2012, the West Broad Street YMCA has served more than 1,300 children with a variety of programs including an early learning center, public library, summer enrichment, after-school tutorials, organic garden, recreation, sports and free meals.

Certification of Gulfstream Aerospace’s two newest products — the large-cabin, mid-range G280 and the ultra high-speed, ultra-long-range flagship G650 — helped boost the Savannah-based business jet manufacturer’s revenues by 30 percent in the third quarter, even as parent company General Dynamics’ earnings slipped 8 percent, company chairman and CEO Jay Johnson reported Wednesday.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) posted third-quarter 2012 earnings of $600 million or $1.70 per share, compared to third quarter 2011 earnings of $665 and $1.83 per share. Company-wide operating margins were 11.4 percent compared to 12.7 percent in third quarter 2011.

Third-quarter aerospace revenues were $1.8 billion in 2012, up $424 million from the same quarter last year. Operating earnings were up 20.3 percent to $261 million.

Gulfstream’s total order backlog was $16 billion, with $15.8 billion of that funded.

“We continue to be encouraged by the size of our large-cabin backlog and the health of our order pipeline,” Johnson told analysts during a morning conference call Wednesday.

Sales were boosted by several multi-aircraft orders, with more expected in the fourth quarter, he said.

“Overall, it was a very successful third quarter at Gulfstream, highlighted by the Federal Aviation Administration’s certification of both the G280 and the G650,” Johnson said.

Revenues for the quarter topped $1.8 billion, due primarily to higher green G650 deliveries, he added.

A green aircraft is one that has completed the initial phase of manufacturing and has received a certificate of airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s called “green” because it’s covered with a green protective coating that is washed off before the aircraft gets its final coat of paint.

Green aircraft are delivered to one of five Gulfstream completion centers to be fitted with interiors and painted before final delivery to the customer.

In a departure from recent years, domestic orders represented some 60 percent of Gulfstream’s year-to-date book.

“Gulfstream’s sales staff reported their best order quarter of the year, driven by several multi-aircraft deals in North America,” Johnson said. “This metric represents a resurgence of North American demand and some softening of international demand, driven by political uncertainty in some regions and the overall negative impact of the European debt crisis on global economic sentiment.”

Even so, Johnson said, Gulfstream’s international customer interest remains healthy across the board.

With an estimated wait time of five years for a G650 order placed today, and 18 months for a G450 and G550, the sales staff continued to book healthy orders for the G650 as well as all other models in the third quarter, he said.

All three aircraft are manufactured in Savannah.

“Looking to the fourth quarter, the Gulfstream team expects to see its strongest sales quarter of the year,” Johnson said, adding that deliveries of the first G280s and G650s to customers are “just weeks away.”

Green deliveries for 2012 are projected to include 24 G650s, 80 G450 and G550 models and 15-20 mid-cabin models, Johnson said.

GULFSTREAM BY THE NUMBERS

3Q 2011 3Q 2012

Revenues $1.41 billion $1.83 billion

Operating earnings $217 million $261 million

Operating margins 15.4 percent 14.2 percent

Green deliveries 25 34

Health Discovery founder, CEO resigns

Health Discovery Corp. (OTCBB: HDVY), a Savannah-based biotech research firm, announced Wednesday that Dr. Stephen D. Barnhill, has resigned as CEO to accept a new opportunity.

The announcement said Barnhill, at the request of the board of directors, has agreed to continue as a consultant and interim CEO until a successor is hired and brought up to speed on the company’s technology and product pipeline to ensure a smooth transition.

Health Discovery’s lead director, Dr. Joe McKenzie, said the board wanted to thank Barnhill for his contributions from founding the company through leading it to a profitable third Quarter of 2012.

“We wish him all the best and look forward to his continued leadership as we search for an experienced senior executive to continue to drive HDC’s growth strategy,” McKenzie said.

Barnhill said the company is on a solid path with cash, no long-term debt, products on the market and a pipeline in development and a valuable patent portfolio.

“I look forward to working with the company to find a new CEO and spending time educating that person on the technology and product pipeline to ensure a smooth transition of executive management,” he said.

Session on identity theft set for Friday

The Coastal Bank is partnering with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Savannah (CCCS) to host a Protect Your Identity event on Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will take place at The Coastal Bank’s office at 412 Stephenson Ave. This event, which is free and open to the public, is being held in conjunction with National Protect Your Identity Week. A mobile ShredEx document shredding truck will be on-site to shred personal papers.

A variety of tips, tools and resources can help minimize the risk of becoming an identity theft victim and to fight back against identity theft crime.

Paper shredding festival scheduled

SunTrust Bank’s Wealth and Investment Management Office at The Landings and Cintas will host a free paper-shredding event at the Smith Brothers Fall Festival Saturday.

The shredding, which is free and open to the public, is part of SunTrust’s efforts to raise awareness of identity theft. SunTrust representatives will be on hand to discuss identity theft issues.

Anyone can bring their paper documents and have them shredded by an on-site, certified Cintas employee.

The shred fest will take place at the SunTrust tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Skidaway Island Village at the Landings.

Microsoft has been quiet. A little too quiet. With all the talk about Apple, Google, and Facebook, it’s often easy (fashionable, even) to forget about Microsoft.

But not for long.

With the impending release of Windows 7’s successor, creatively named Windows 8, Microsoft is making some big changes, and they’re banking that these changes will be helpful enough to overpower the learning curve people will have getting used to the changes.

The most obvious departure from what you’re probably used to is the new user interface that relies heavily on Live Tiles. Live Tiles are blocks that live in your desktop area and stay connected to various things. You might have a Live Tile that has your email inbox account or the weather, etc. They also can be simple shortcuts to programs.

Microsoft is hoping you’ll find this workflow much more useful than the old school start menu. You’ll still be able to use a start menu if you jump through some hoops, but Microsoft really wants you to embrace Live Tiles.

The Live Tile bet is a part of a larger initiative to merge their device interaction into one unified experience. By this, I mean that using a Windows tablet, phone or computer should feel largely the same. It’s the same direction that Apple has been going in for a few years now, and Microsoft just couldn’t ignore the push any longer.

I’m a little torn on whether to be excited. I’m a Windows user (don’t shoot me, Apple fans), but it’s been so long since Microsoft has done anything to wow me that I don’t know how this will go. Will this be a Windows Vista-level bomb, or will Microsoft finally earn some respect in this “post-PC era?”

In truth, they may not care. While it’s a big bet, the ability to take a risk seems more important than the actual result. If it’s a failure, Microsoft can always pull a Coca-Cola and relaunch “Windows Classic.” And in that scenario, even annoyed consumers would rather buy a new $100 operating system than a new $1,000 Mac computer. Even a failure might not hurt their market share much.

So should you run out and buy the Win8 upgrade on Friday when it’s released? I’d hold off until some real public reviews come in (not just the ones from the beta-testing nerds out there). Software compatibility is always a question with these upgrades, so you’ll want to get a few months to see Win8 in the wild if you’re nervous.

Aside from that, it’s great to see Microsoft pushing the envelope a little. Competition is so important to keep that innovation engine churning, and if Microsoft hits a homerun with Windows 8, they’re big enough to make a real impact and push others forward as well.

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

Wells Fargo bank has awarded grants of $1,000 each to 23 Savannah area nonprofits through its Days of Giving program that will exceed $1 million this year across Georgia.

Checks were awarded to the local agencies during a Tuesday morning breakfast at Woodville Tomkins High School, 151 Coach Joe Turner St.

Recipients were selected by teams at Wells Fargo’s local outlets along with individuals in other lines of business.

The following groups received $1,000 checks:

• Abilities Unlimited

• American Diabetes Association

• Bethesda Academy

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coastal Empire

• Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County

• Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Georgia

• Georgia Historical Society

• Georgia Transplant Foundation

• GraceFields Inc. — Operation Fluffy Pillow

• Horsin’ Around

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• Liberty County Manna House

• Loaves and Fishes Interfaith Food Ministry of Pooler

• Old Savannah City Mission

• Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire

• Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities of the Coastal Empire

• Royce Learning Center

• Safe Harbor Children’s Center

• Savannah Childrens Choir

• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

• The Salvation Army

• The YMCA of Coastal Georgia — Priceless Gifts

• Zoe Foundation.

“Just the names of the groups selected show their passion to help special people who need it,” said Jenny Gentry, Savannah market president. “Our nonprofits give so much to so many. Our business bankers are so pleased to provide help to them in return.”

Stacye Jarrell loves her job. And it shows.

The owner — with husband Lannie — of Oceanfront Cottage Rentals and Tybee Wedding Chapel is widely considered a driving force behind Tybee’s new image as a wedding destination.

On Thursday, Jarrell’s Oceanfront Cottage Rentals was named Small Business of the Year at the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo and Awards.

“We love Tybee and we love sharing it with others,” Jarrell said. “To get this award is just amazing. To think that a Tybee business can get this kind of recognition in a city with hundreds of wonderful, creative small businesses — it’s really special,” Jarrell told the more than 300 people attending the event at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

Chad Barrow, who co-founded Coastal Logistics Group LLC with his father Richard in 2004, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.

In just eight years, CLG has grown exponentially, opening a 320,000-square-foot operations center in Garden City less than two years ago. With direct rail access, the center offers warehousing, bulk loading and unloading, packing, crating distribution and manufacturing support service.

The company has expanded to serve the Southeast gateway through locations in Savannah, Norfolk and Memphis. Earlier this year, Port Logistics Group - the nation’s leading provider of gateway logistics services - announced it will partner with Coastal Logistics to allow the two companies to offer complete logistics solutions at all major U.S. ports.

Jane A. Feiler of Metro Developers was named the Helen V. Head Small Business Advocate of the Year and JCB was the inaugural recipient of the World Trade Center Savannah’s International Business of the Year.

The Small Business Advocate award is named for late accountant Helen Head, the first chairwoman of the Savannah chamber and a strong supporter of small business.

Feiler, the first female president of Leadership Savannah and Congregation Mickve Israel, is a co-founder of the Chatham Commerce Club, a club established for women executives in Savannah in the mid 1980s to provide a network of professional contacts.

The World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year Award recognizes companies who excel in international trade, acknowledging the importance of global commerce to the region’s economy. It is designed to encourage and recognize exemplary corporate leadership for international business that advances relations between the U.S. and other nations, as well as creates quality jobs in the Savannah area.

JCB is the world’s largest privately owned construction equipment manufacturer. With world headquarters in the United Kingdom, the company opened its North American business and manufacturing center in Savannah in 2000. The 500,000-square-foot facility produces skid steer and compact track loaders for global distribution, as well as the High Mobility Engineer Excavator, a high-speed, fully armored backhoe loader currently in use by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This year, the annual Manufacturer’s Awards were also handed out at the banquet.

“Manufacturing is vitally important to the overall health of Savannah’s economy, providing more than 15,000 jobs and an economic impact of $2 billion,” said Kim Gusby, morning anchor of WSAV’s Coastal Sunrise and emcee for the evening. “And their influence creates more jobs in such related industries as distribution and transportation.”

Manufacturer’s awards for 2012 went to:

• Weyerhaeuser — Environmental Excellence Award

• Billy Robinson, Port City Logistics Inc. — The Gulfstream Community Involvement Award

• Nick Pappas and Vasilis Varlagas of Olympia Café — Hospitality Award

• NuStar Energy Savannah Refinery — Manufacturer’s Safety Award.

The day-into-evening Business Expo and Awards Banquet, sponsored by the chamber and the Savannah Morning News also offered area businesses an opportunity to showcase their products and services. More than 100 responded, setting up booths and handing out brochures, samples and goodies.

“People do business with people they know, and this year’s event has given participants a chance to meet local businesses of all sizes and industries face-to-face and directly engage them about their product or service,” said Bill Hubbard, chamber president and CEO.

This year’s Business Expo also featured training sessions with nationally known speakers Peter Yesawich of MMGY Global and LeRoy Maughan of Franklin Covey.

Known for years as the Small Business Expo, the event was expanded for 2012, Hubbard said.

“Based on requests from our members, we decided to broaden this year’s focus to include each of our major business sectors — small business, hospitality, manufacturing — to recognize how they work together to drive our economy.”

Savannah area foreclosure rate drops

Foreclosure rates in Savannah for the month of August decreased over the same period last year, according to new data from CoreLogic, a financial reporting firm.

The CoreLogic data reveals that the rate of Savannah area foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 1.50 percent for August 2012, a decrease of 0.35 percentage points compared to August 2011 when the rate was 1.85 percent.

Foreclosure activity in Savannah was lower than the national foreclosure rate, which was 3.35 percent for August 2012.

Also in Savannah, the mortgage delinquency rate decreased. According to CoreLogic data for August 2012, 5.78 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared to 6.03 percent for the same period last year, representing a decrease of 0.25 percentage points.

Rayonier reports third quarter results

JACKSONVILLE — Rayonier (NYSE:RYN), which employs more than 1,200 people in Georgia, Thursday reported third quarter net income of $81 million, or 62 cents per share, compared to $105 million, or 84 cents per share, in the prior year period.

Year-to-date 2012 net income totaled $203 million, or $1.58 per share, compared to $220 million, or $1.75 per share, in 2011.

Cash provided by operating activities was $354 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $326 million for the prior year period. Year-to-date cash available for distribution was $261 million versus $242 million in 2011.

“We are pleased to report continued strong operating results this quarter in line with our expectations. In Performance Fibers, the cellulose specialties market remains strong, and in Forest Resources, sales increased as we added volume from our recent acquisitions,” said Paul G. Boynton, chairman, president and CEO.

Rayonier has a performance fibers mill and marketing and research center in Jesup; lumber mills in Baxley, Swainsboro and Eatonton; wood chip mills in Offerman, Eastman, Collins and Barnesville; a seedling nursery in Glennville and more than 700,000 acres of working forests in Georgia.

NuBarter gift show set for Nov. 13

The NuBarter Holiday Trade and Gift Show will be held Nov. 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Midtown, 5711 Abercorn St..

The event will features complimentary food, a cash bar, free parking and more than 40 gift vendors. A local band “Steel the Show,” featuring Melvin Dean on the steel drum, will perform live.

Vendors will offer jewelry, billiards equipment, art work, high-end hair and skin care, spa gift certificates, luxury soaps and candles, tours and vacation packages, restaurant gift certificates, gift baskets and other items.

For more more information, call Jacquie Stein at 912-233-0808 or visit www.NuBarter.com.

Summer’s end stunted Savannah’s job growth.

Retail and tourism-related businesses in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties cut a combined 700 employees in September, according to Georgia Department of Labor estimates. The drops, largely in seasonal positions, contributed to a net loss of 500 jobs for the month.

However, the labor department revised its August numbers, with the local credited with an additional 200 jobs. The 154,500 local jobs in August ranks as the highest total since December 2008.

Overall, Savannah-area employers have added 3,400 jobs since March and 3,600 positions since September 2011.

Savannah’s unemployment rate declined to its lowest point this year at 8.0 percent, down six-tenths of a percentage point from August’s rate.

The rate’s decline is tied to employable Savannahians returning to school, a trend reflected around the state. Georgia’s unemployment rate fell from 9.2 percent in August to 9.0 in September.

“The unemployment rate dropped in September because Georgia had the fewest new claims for unemployment insurance benefits in five years, since before the start of the Great Recession,” said Mark Butler, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor.

Savannah’s government sector added jobs in September. Local governments hired an estimated 300 new workers in the month. The transportation, warehousing and utilities sector was the only other industry to add jobs in September.

George H. Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which is providing mediation in the contract negotiations between the United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen’s Association, reported “productive negotiations” after the first five days of talks earlier this month.

“The parties are making good progress on a number of difficult issues at the full committee and subcommittee levels,” he said, adding the group would meet again in the next few weeks.

Wednesday, Cohen issued another statement.

“I am pleased to report that the parties met the past two days and discussed a number of major issues,” he said. “As a result of these discussions, the parties will have their respective committees review their positions and analyze associated costs.

“Meanwhile, the parties’ subcommittees will continue to meet in an effort to resolve additional outstanding issues.

“I wish to commend the parties for their hard work and their commitment to this process.”

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation.

Another feather in Siplon’s cap

Page Siplon, executive director of the Savannah-based Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, has been appointed to the newly formed U.S. Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness by acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca M. Blank.

Blank appointed Siplon only weeks after he was named by DC Velocity Magazine to its “2012 Logistics Rainmaker” list, which annually recognizes the top 10 logistics professionals in the nation.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Siplon for the committee. Representing the state of Georgia, he is one of only two committee members selected from the Southeast.

“I am pleased the U.S. Department of Commerce is engaging private industry so closely in efforts to shape the competitive strategy of our nation’s supply chains,” said Deal. “Here in Georgia, logistics is a solid cornerstone of our competitiveness and has been a major factor in creating new jobs and prosperity for companies in every corner of our state. Page’s leadership of our Center of Innovation for Logistics continues to pay dividends to our focused economic development efforts, and we are excited to have him now represent our state on this important national committee.”

The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness will act as a liaison between industry and government and is an important step toward ensuring regular contact with the supply chain industries, including manufacturers, distributors and exporters.

The committee’s advice will also be useful in the development of a national freight policy and in executing the National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014. Committee members are recognized leaders and represent a wide range of supply chain expertise from companies such as Campbell Soup, Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Pfizer, Target and Office Depot, as well as national industry associations and experts from academia.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will serve on the committee as nonvoting members. The committee held its first official full meeting last week in Washington.

“I am honored to join such an esteemed group of industry experts and leaders on this new advisory committee,” Siplon said. “I look forward to being actively involved and helping our industry here in Georgia compete and grow in yet another capacity.”

As an industry-focused division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Center of Innovation for Logistics helps companies overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities related to the movement of freight. The center provides focused expertise, specific industry data, connections to state resources and an extensive cross-sector industry network.

Wheeler joins SCPA

John M. Wheeler, who spent more than two decades with the Georgia Ports Authority, most recently as senior director of trade development, has joined the South Carolina Ports Authority as vice president of carrier sales, beginning Monday.

Wheeler left GPA in early September.

River flight

Maritime businessman McLeod Rominger reports tourists and locals on East River Street were treated to quite a sight recently when a bald eagle swooped down to take a fish from the river in front of the old Savannah Electric building.

“It flew to a tree on the opposite bank near the Corps of Engineers dock and stayed for a while,” said the former Propeller Club president.

“It was amazing to watch.”

Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.

CADDO, La. — At a news conference with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Benteler Steel/Tube Friday announced it will build a new hot rolling tube mill in Caddo, La., to strengthen the company’s position in the North American oil exploration and drilling market.

The facility, with a total investment of nearly $900 million, will be Benteler Steel/Tube’s first U.S. production facility and will create more than 1,000 construction jobs, an estimated 675 full time jobs when at full capacity and numerous indirect jobs with suppliers and service providers to the plant.

As recently as early 2012, Benteler had been named as a potential tenant to join Mitsubishi on the Pooler megasite near the intersection of Interstates 16 and 95. The Savannah Economic Development Authority and state economic development officials had been talking to the company using the designation Project Delta.

At that time, Bentler spokeswoman Gudrun Girnus would only confirm that the company was looking at several U.S. locations.

“Yes, the Benteler Group is looking for opportunities to internationalize its steel tube business by building a plant in the United States,” she said. “We have a project group working on this, currently investigating the conditions in different states. Decisions will probably be made in the next six months, toward summer.”

In February, neither state nor local economic development officials would comment on the project, although Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, indicated the megasite continues to draw national and international attention.

“The Pooler megasite is the foremost such property in the Southeast, and we have shown it to companies on a regular basis,” he said. “It’s a prime location that provides easy access to global markets for international companies like Mitsubishi, which has a successful operation there already.”

At the Savannah Economic Development Authority, project manager Jerald Mitchell was equally vague.

“We cannot comment on any project SEDA may or may not be working on,” he said.

Sites in North and South Carolina also reportedly had been in the running for the plant.

Friday, Matthias Jaeger, president and CEO Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH, said he was pleased to announce that northwestern Louisiana will be home to the first U.S. production facility for Benteler Steel/Tube.

“With the growing demand for high-quality steel tubes for exploratory drilling in the U.S., and Louisiana’s proximity and access to energy customers, Benteler Steel/Tube’s Caddo Parish plant is poised to play an important role in meeting U.S. domestic energy needs,” Jaeger said.

Groundbreaking on the new facility is scheduled for the spring of 2013 and completion is planned for the second half of 2015. In the initial phase, Benteler will build a hot rolling tube mill with new and sophisticated manufacturing technology along with several finishing lines for the production of seamless tube solutions.

S.C. financial corporation reports third-quarter profit

COLUMBIA, S.C. — SCBT Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SCBT), the holding company for South Carolina Bank & Trust, reported Friday it had a net income of $9.1 million for its third quarter that ended Sept. 30 compared to $10.3 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Second quarter profit in 2012 totalled $8 million.

The company’s operating earnings, which exclude merger and conversion expense, of $9.4 million in the third quarter compared to $9.4 million in the previous quarter and $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2011.

The board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share payable on its common stock payable on Nov. 23.

President and CEO Robert R. Hill, Jr., said he was pleased with the company’s overall performance.

“We have made consistent progress in most operating facets each quarter this year,” Hill said.

In August, South Carolina Bank & Trust acquired Savannah Bancorp and its subsidiaries for $67 million.

Business group offers political endorsements

The Savannah Area Business Political Action Committee has announced its endorsements for the Nov. 6 local elections.

The announcement said the following candidates were selected because of their commitment to a pro-business agenda:

• District Attorney — Meg Heap;

• Sheriff — Al St. Lawrence;

• County Commission Chairman — Al Scott;

• County Commissioner Chairman — Eddie DeLoach;

• Superior Court Clerk — Dan Massey;

• County Commissioner, District 3 — Tony Center;

• County Commissioner, District 6 — Lori Brady.

“We support these candidates because, when elected, they will recognize and aggressively protect the needs of the business community,” said Stephen Green, chairman of the Savannah Area Business PAC.

Ga. executives expect modest inflation

ATLANTA —A survey of southeastern executives with nearly 200 firms released Friday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta shows expectations for inflation are lower than what most private economists anticipate.

The Fed conducted the latest survey of 196 firms Oct. 15-19.

The average annual inflation rate anticipated by the group is 1.8 percent, up from the 1.7 percent forecast in September. Over the next five to 10 years, the executives are looking to see a 2.9 percent yearly rate.

Last year, they braced for a 1.9 percent rise in unit costs, but the actual increase turned out to be just 1.4 percent, according to what they told the Fed this month.

Lower-than-expected unit costs was the only good news in this month’s poll. Executives said improvements in sales and profit margins they had reported in September have since deteriorated.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a slightly faster 2 percent annual rate from July through September, buoyed by more spending by consumers and the federal government.

Even with the increase from a 1.3 percent growth rate in the April-June quarter, the economy remains too weak to rapidly boost job creation.

The report Friday from the Commerce Department is the last broad snapshot of the economy before Americans choose a president in 11 days.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney has attacked President Barack Obama’s handling of the economy and has noted that growth has slowed from last year. The 1.74 percent annual growth rate for the first nine months of 2012 remains slightly behind last year’s 1.8 percent growth. That, in turn, trailed 2010’s growth of 2.4 percent.

Obama has argued that the economy is steadily improving. Analysts cautioned, though, that Friday’s report offered few signs that economic growth is gaining momentum.

The economy grew faster last quarter in part because consumer spending rose at a 2 percent annual rate, up from a 1.5 percent rate in the second quarter. Spending on homebuilding and renovations increased at an annual rate of more than 14 percent.

And federal spending surged, mainly because of the sharpest increase in defense spending in more than three years.

Growth was held back by the first drop in exports in more than three years and flat business investment in equipment and software. It was also slowed by the effects of the drought that struck the Midwest last summer. The drought cut agriculture stockpiles and reduced the economy’s annual growth rate by nearly a half-point.

Once crop supplies return to normal, they will help boost economic growth, analysts noted.

The government’s report covers gross domestic product. GDP measures the nation’s total output of goods and services — from restaurant meals and haircuts to airplanes, appliances and highways.

It was the government’s first of three estimates of growth for the July-September quarter. And it sketched a picture that’s been familiar all year: The economy is growing at a tepid rate, slowed by high unemployment and corporate anxiety over an unresolved budget crisis and a slowing global economy.

It is unclear what effect, if any, Friday’s report might have on the presidential race.

Some analysts said they doubted it would sway many undecided voters in battleground states.

“It’s moving in the right direction, but it’s still an unimpressive number,” says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “It’s so close to the election I don’t know how many people are left to influence.”

The factors supporting the economy’s growth are shifting. Exports and business investment drove much of the growth after the Great Recession officially ended in June 2009. But those sectors are weakening. Consumer spending, meantime, has picked up. And housing is adding to growth after a six-year slump.

The number of homes available for sale has fallen since the recession, helping push up prices. That trend has also supported an increase in home construction, though from very low levels.

Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.

Businesses have grown more cautious since spring, in part because customer demand has remained modest and exports have declined as the global economy has slowed.

Many companies worry that their overseas sales could dampen further if recession spreads throughout Europe and growth slows further in China, India and other developing countries. Businesses also fear the tax increases and government spending cuts that will kick in next year if Congress doesn’t reach a budget deal.

Those trends have made companies reluctant to hire or invest in expensive equipment.

Since the recovery began more than three years ago, the U.S. economy has grown at the slowest rate of any recovery in the post-World War II period. And economists think growth will remain sluggish at least through the first half of 2013.

Some analysts believe the economy will start to pick up in the second half of next year.

Economists hope that by then, the tax and spending confrontations that have brought gridlock to Washington should be resolved. That could encourage businesses to invest and hire.

The Federal Reserve’s continued efforts to boost the economy by lowering long-term interest rates may also help by generating more borrowing and spending by consumers and businesses.

But the economy is still being slowed by consumers’ efforts to spend less, boost savings and pay off debts, economists say. And banks remain cautious about lending in the aftermath of the financial crisis. That’s why recoveries after financial crises are usually weak, many economists say.

“There’s just a reality here: You don’t recover from these types of events as quickly as you’d like,” said Paul Edelstein, an economist at IHS Global Insight.

Back in 1912, J.C. Lewis used $500 loaned by a friend and golfing buddy to buy a franchise to sell Ford motor cars. Now, his heirs are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the dealership that intially was located downtown on Bull Street across from the old Desoto Hotel.

J.C. Lewis Ford currently occupies a sprawling site at 9505 Abercorn St. among a series of other dealerships along Savannah’s automobile row.

J.C. Lewis, Jr., who took over the business following his father’s death, proved to be a brilliant businessman who opened additional Ford dealerships in Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Fla., added new brands to his Savannah dealership and invested in tractor sales, taxi cab businesses, television and radio stations, hotels, life insurance, yacht sales and real estate.

On Friday, Jim Farley, the head of worldwide marketing for Ford Motor Co., and Edsel Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors, visited the dealership to presented a plaque in honor of their 100th anniversary.

In 39 days a thousand or more nonprofits across Georgia will get an early Christmas present. Georgia Gives is a statewide initiative that’s focusing attention on the contributions of nonprofits to Georgia communities.

On Dec. 6, charitable donors all across Georgia will select one or more nonprofits to donate through Georgia Gives.

The Georgia Gives program is a collaboration of the state association for nonprofits, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), with corporations, associations, foundations and public relations and advertising firms across the state, plus all the nonprofits and donors who will participate.

Georgia nonprofits are signing up now to participate. Leading up to Dec. 6, Georgia Gives and its main partner leading the initiative, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, will be getting the word out statewide to those who want to support all the great work nonprofits do.

While the main day of giving will be Dec. 6, those who want to donate right away can do so.

All state registered, Georgia-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations qualify to participate in Georgia Gives, and there is no cost to participate. More than 730 Georgia nonprofits have already signed up.

To have your nonprofit participate in Georgia Gives Day, sign up at https://gagivesday.org/c/GGD.

Applications are reviewed to confirm eligibility and typically processed within 24 hours. Once approved, you can join one of several webinars GCN has arranged to show you how to take full advantage of the program and its platform.

Your nonprofit will provide online information about itself to help site visitors get to know you and decide to donate to your mission. A search engine allows donors to select the nonprofit to which they wish to contribute by service category or zip code. For more information, go to www.gcn.org.

While the current focus is on Dec. 6 Georgia Gives Day, the initiative’s website, GAgivesday.org, will provide an ongoing, year-round giving platform for nonprofits to receive donations. A nice touch is the option for donors to dedicate their contribution in honor of or in memory of someone.

Powered by its well established partners, the Georgia Gives initiative is a particular boon for smaller nonprofits without the resources for such a wide ranging fundraising campaign. You can alert your network to this opportunity to support you. Many more potential contributors will be recruited through the Georgia Gives Day media campaign.

Don’t delay checking this out. The deadline for nonprofit participation is Nov. 16.

Sarah Todd is executive director of Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and founder of Change Pioneers, an information resource on innovative leadership of broad scale social change. She can be reached at toddsar@gmail.com or 912-224-2120.

Gulfstream to showcase its jet fleet

Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace will showcase its full fleet of aircraft, including the recently certified Gulfstream G650 and G280, at the 65th Annual National Business Aviation Association Meeting & Convention in Orlando from Tuesday through Thursday.

In addition to Gulstream’s aircraft, a 7,200-square-foot convention center exhibit will focus on the company’s wide-ranging product support initiatives.

On Tuesday, the company will announce the winner of the Gulfstream Outstanding Flight Award Program, which commemorates 53 years of superlative worldwide flight by Gulfstream aircraft. The winner will receive the Alber-Rowley Trophy, named for the first two pilots of the original Gulfstream I.

Several members of the company’s senior leadership team will be on hand for the three-day industry event.

Hilton Head ‘taste’ tickets on sale

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Taste of the Season tickets are on sale now for the 23rd annual Taste of the Season. The event, presented by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, will feature more than 30 of the area’s top chefs and restaurants, vying for the title of “Best Cuisine.”

A V.I.P. experience featuring an exclusive preview party and premier wine tasting with complimentary valet parking and an early entry to Taste of the Season is new to the event this year.

Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 people.

Taste of the Season will be held on Friday, Nov. 16, at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa from 6-9 p.m. Visit hiltonheadchamber.org for a complete listing of restaurants, silent auction items and information.

Tickets are $45. V.I.P. tickets are $85 and are available at hiltonheadchamber.org, at chamber headquarters and at the chamber’s Bluffton office.

Savannah Tech to host visiting artisans

Savannah Technical College will host its historic preservation visiting artisan series featuring Jeff and Henry Orton, traditional lime plasterers from Leicestershire, U.K., the week of Nov. 12-17.

The Ortons are a father-son plastering team. Jeff has more than 40 years in the plastering business, working on sites throughout the world. His son Henry followed his father into the plastering trades and works for a masonry company.

Jeff and Henry will teach students bench running and in-situ crown molding throughout the week in Savannah Tech’s historic preservation lab, 5717 White Bluff Road.

The Ortons will instruct with students to repair damaged plaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1 W. Macon St., from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Steve Hartley at shartley@savannahtech.edu or 912-443-5864.

West River Street has never bustled like East River Street.

At least not since River Street completed its decades-long transition from a port to a tourist destination. But we could sure see a whole lot more action at the west end of River Street in the coming years.

One weeknight last week, I spent some time wandering the blocks bordering the quiet corner of West River Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Other than a couple of mildly curious security guards, I had the street pretty much to myself.

Standing there today, especially in such pervasive quiet, it’s hard to imagine that the intersection of West River Street and West Broad Street once joined two of the city’s most vital commercial corridors and transportation hubs.

The docks on River Street connected Savannah to the world, and the railroads put the rest of the country within reach.

As most of you know, Georgia Power’s Plant Riverside with its 3.79-acre tract is up for sale. In this increasingly upbeat economic environment, the site is certain to attract attention.

The brick facade of the original building deserves preservation, but the metal extension on the east side could go. There’s room for new construction on either side of the existing building. The most obvious use would be one or more hotels. There’s already another hotel slated for the south side of River Street.

No matter what happens, we need to get this right.

I think preservationists are sometimes overly concerned about height restrictions, but height is critical here. If we end up with additional riverfront buildings as tall as the existing plant, we’ll dramatically restrict some of the city’s best views – of the bridge, of Hutchinson Island, of the big ships gliding by.

Those views could also be unduly compromised if new buildings adjacent to Plant Riverside are too close together.

And the old power plant isn’t the only property in the vicinity waiting for a new use.

There’s 10,000 square feet of continuous commercial space in the 300 block of West River Street just east of the MLK intersection.

And there’s almost another 9,000 square feet at the southwest corner of MLK and River Street in a rather grand building that last housed SCAD’s River Club. With the SCAD Museum of Art providing space for larger, more formal gatherings, the college no longer needed to rent that space along the river.

Given the amount of property available in such proximity, we could see a single developer make a bold move to transform the entire corner, similar to what’s happening at the west end of River Street around the other former Georgia Power site.

Of course, it’s also possible that West River Street will continue to struggle compared to the east end. There are certainly some daunting obstacles.

We’ve extended the river walk all the way east along Savannah River Landing, but it ends abruptly on the west end because of the old power plant.

We also allowed the Hyatt to build across River Street, creating a barrier of sorts for many pedestrians.

And we switched River Street from two-way to one-way vehicular traffic. That change dramatically reduced the likelihood that drivers and passengers would ever even see businesses at the west end.

That 2002 conversion was made because of concerns about traffic flow, pedestrian safety and emergency vehicle access.

But there was a big tradeoff when we removed directional choices and many on-street parking spaces. Property values and commerce were hurt, with the less visible west end paying the largest price.

Restricting vehicular access also impacted the accessibility of River Street for local folks.

Back around the turn of the century, I had friends who would regularly drive to the riverfront at quieter times — generally weeknights — when they had the choice of going east or west and generally had no trouble finding on-street parking.

As access became more difficult, they just quit going.

And that echoes the ambivalent relationship that many locals have with River Street, which seems more geared for tourists.

That generalization breaks down to a significant degree at night, since so many of River Street’s bars have primarily local clienteles.

And, sure, you can find lots of locals along River Street during the day, especially if there’s a festival going on.

Still, we have both psychological and physical barriers that prevent many locals from enjoying the beauty of River Street.

Maybe the eventual development of these significant properties at the west end will shake up that dynamic.

City Talk appears every Tuesday and Sunday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 East 32nd St., Savannah, Ga. 31401.