AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As the world of artificial intelligence continues to grow, leaders are creating new opportunities for anyone looking for a career in the industry.

The inaugural Georgia Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing Expo took place at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center on Wednesday, hosting organizations from across the state.

Georgia AIM is a statewide program focused on educating and employing the AI in manufacturing workforce.

“We’re also focused on underrepresented and underserved communities women, minority veterans, people without a college degree, people who want to get into the workforce, learn new skills, get a really, really good-paying job, start a career,” said co-director Donna Ennis.

At first, multiple organizations showed up, dedicated to the same mission.

Justin Kirnon, community engagement specialist for Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, said: “We’re exposing this to minority communities, specifically black communities, all over the state of Georgia, because of the fact that, when you look at manufacturing owners and companies, we’re not represented in that space as well as we should be.”

The goal is to create exposure through demonstrations using AI-driven software like 3D printing and virtual reality.

University of Georgia graduate research assistant Christian Garcia-Ponce, said: “A lot of people when they hear AI, they think it’s going to take over the world and people are going to lose jobs. Really, what we’re hoping to show people is we’re going to grow with it. It’s not going to grow without us and showing them how they can kind of play into that.”

One partnering organization says they start the learning process at a young age.

“We train girls in the areas of computer programming, of course, cyber security, artificial intelligence, digital safety, robotics, drone technology and other STEM-related areas as well,” said Ebony Brown, CEO of Brown Girls Code.

They say they plan to host an expo every year with the hope they’ll keep people up to speed as AI and technology continue to grow.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A missing Augusta woman’s “suspicious death” is under investigation after her body was found in a car at Pendleton King Park.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen says Quanda Ball, 43, of the 1000 block of Grasmere Drive, was reported missing to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on May 16.

Ball was found in a car at the park and was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Bowen says.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

The discovery came hours after a man died by suicide at Pendleton King Park after he was suspected of killing a woman Walton Way.

Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Augusta Parks and Recreation Department announced Pendleton King Park was temporarily closed.

We’ve reached out to deputies for more information.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

The chain has opened its first c-store in the Augusta, Ga., market, with one more to come next month.

By Kevin McIntyre | May 22, 2024

Parker’s Kitchen has opened its first retail store in Augusta, Ga., with another planned to open in June. Both locations will be open 24/7 to serve customers across the region.

The first new Parker’s Kitchen opened May 22 at 5 a.m. Strategically positioned at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Tobacco Road, the company’s first Augusta, Ga., store will offer award-winning, Southern-inspired food, high-quality fuel and much more.

The next site, located in North Augusta, S.C., is expected to open June 12. The North Augusta store is situated at the I-520 off-ramp and is positioned for local residents, commuters and visitors to grab signature Parker’s Kitchen food, convenience items, auto fuel and high-flow diesel.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to open our first Parker’s Kitchen locations in the fast-growing Augusta market,” said Parker’s Kitchen founder and CEO Greg Parker. “We’re laser-focused on exceeding customer expectations and being a great community partner. We can’t wait to serve our customers in the Augusta area, elevate the convenience store experience for local residents and give back to the community right here in Augusta and North Augusta.”

Both Augusta-area stores will feature made-from-scratch Parker’s Kitchen food for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as indoor dining, popular grab-and-go food options and a hot bar with convenient electronic kiosk ordering.

Popular items include never-frozen, antibiotic-free, hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders, signature mac ‘n’ cheese, potato logs, the Parker’s Kitchen Spicy Chicken Tender Sandwich, freshly made salads and more. The entire Parker’s Kitchen menu is handcrafted on-site from fresh ingredients by local chefs.

Additional highlights include bean-to-cup gourmet coffee, freshly brewed sweet and unsweet tea, Fancy Lemonade, 28-degree beer and a wide range of fountain drinks with signature Parker’s Kitchen Chewy Ice.

The inviting store design at both locations features signature Parker’s Kitchen Lowcountry-inspired architecture with a modern, contemporary glass-front façade, lime-washed brick, handsome bracketry, designer lighting and clean bathrooms. Both stores feature 19 fuel dispensers, offering regular, mid-grade, premium, diesel, ethanol-free, truck diesel and DEF fuel.

Parker’s Kitchen currently operates 87 retail stores in Georgia and South Carolina and plans to double the number of stores across the Southeast in the next four years. The company is currently in the midst of a major expansion into new markets including Augusta, Ga.; Aiken, S.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Jacksonville, Fla.

Parker’s In The Community

Every new-to-industry store provides 25 to 30 jobs for local residents, offering highly competitive salary and benefits packages. Parker’s Kitchen also employs 75 to 85 contractors to build each new store in the metro Augusta area.

Known for its longstanding commitment to charitable giving, Parker’s Kitchen has donated more than $30 million over the past eight years to local causes and has noted its commitment to supporting education, expanding access to healthcare, reducing childhood hunger and celebrating local heroes.

Parker’s Kitchen is currently conducting a round-up campaign to support local injured veterans, with proceeds benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Parker’s Kitchen matches 25% of all customer round-up donations to amplify the impact of customer giving.

In addition, the Parker’s Fueling the Community charitable initiative donates a percentage of gas sold at all Parker’s Kitchen locations on the first Wednesday of each month to area schools. The company has donated more than $2 million to area schools across South Carolina and Georgia since the inception of the Fueling the Community program in 2011.

Honored as the 2020 CStore Decisions Chain of the Year and headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s Kitchen has enjoyed robust 20-24% annual growth every year for the past 25 years and has been featured six times on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

The company also offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program, which saves customers time and money at the pump as well as in the store.

The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date.

Parker’s Kitchen employs 1,400 professionals throughout South Carolina and Georgia, and completes nearly a million transactions weekly.