SCORE recently announced the appointment of Dedra M. Johanneson as board chair. She is the organization's first female board chair since its founding in 1964.
Good Dog Naturally and The Scrubby Puppy in Covington has been serving tail-wagging treat lovers for eight years. The pet supply store, self-dog wash and grooming business is owned by North Shore residents Angela Sagona and Colleen McAuliffe, who started the business after Sagona’s golden retriever, Teak, passed away from thyroid cancer.
Sometimes accomplishing the “unimaginable” is the only means to overcoming the “unthinkable.” For 30 years, Annemarie du LeBohn had lived with fear, self-doubt and low confidence as a result of being raped and stalked by her attacker. In 2010, she took matters into her own hands and decided to challenge herself to accomplishing the ultimate physical and mental challenge: the Ironman. A 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run – and of course, the mental discipline and perseverance to do it all – turned out to be the prescription for turning her life around. Suddenly life was not only possible but fun; she could create goals and accomplish them. One of those goals was turning her story into a motivational speaking business and SCORE mentors Tom Patty and Betty Otte helped make that a reality.
Annemarie’s motivational speech shows people that they can overcome anything and succeed. The speech shares 3 mental tools to create a positive mindset and 7 Ironman training tools that anyone can use to achieve their goals.
Annemarie has been a guest speaker on national radio shows, featured in Toastmasters International magazine (distributed to 135 countries in 7 languages) and had speeches booked a year in advance. She was featured as an inspirational athlete in USA Triathlon magazine. In October 2012, she spoke at TEDxOrangeCoast on the theme of Redefining Relevance.
Through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) side of her business, she is currently working with a Fortune 1000 company on their CSR communication efforts and she’s spoken about the topic at trade shows and in social media. She has partnered with the Microsoft Store to host corporate social responsibility workshops for Microsoft’s clients in Southern California.
How SCORE Helped
Mentor Tom Patty focused on helping and inspiring the public speaking side of Annemarie’s business while mentor Bette Otte mentored the CSR side. Tom outfitted Annemarie with public speaking advice including defining her message, practicing the speech 20 times and using the same confidence she’d needed for the Ironman. Betty helped Annemarie to focus on tasks to build the corporate social responsibility business including creating a business priority list, defining her brand, and developing a prospect list. And just as importantly, she coached her on how to say 'No' to projects that were not beneficial to her goals.
I was laid off in September 2009. After several weeks, it became clear that I could not get a job in a local funeral home since my husband was still working for the same company that had laid me off, making competition wary. While we had always wanted to open our own funeral home, we could not afford it, so we decided that I could open a direct disposer establishment (without viewings, visitations, or services).
I found a SCORE pamphlet at the local Career Central (unemployment agency) that I was going to. That's when I found George, my mentor.
Owner/Founder
Cheryle Gooldin
My Location
6631 State Road 54
New Port RicheyFL
United States
Employees
4
Year Company Formed
2009
My Successes
We have bid on and received a County Indigent Cremation contract. We've remodeled our small office to include space for a part-time Funeral Director and a part-time book-keeper. We have grown from serving 13 families in our first year, 231 in our second year, and project about 400 this year.
What's Great About My Mentor?
George's guidance, knowledge, and patience are the cornerstones on which I have built a solid, stable, successful busines. I highly recommend SCORE become every business owners' initial resource for information. If you are ever thinking about starting a business in Pasco County, I suggest you call SCORE first. Second, ask for George. He is the Best!
How SCORE Helped
I had never even had a lemonade stand... that's how much business knowledge I had. My SCORE mentor told me about so many things that I did not even know about like worker's comp, unemployment taxes, corporations taxes, and payroll taxes. That last one I would not need for a long time! I spoke to my mentor several times, and he guided me in the right direction. He came by my office and helped me in many ways. Even though he did not have a lot of knowledge about the funeral industry, he did know how to start and run a successful business. My paper financial records have all been migrated to QuickBooks. My advertising dollars are being wisely spent. And my business is growing.
As a returning homemaker to the work force I had a strong entrepreneurial drive and a clear and focused vision for a cupcake bakery in a new larger strip mall on a well traveled, easy access feeder road to/from the NJ Turnpike and Route 295. I developed a business plan showing no competition in the service area, a possible location and recipes that out-classed any competition within NJ and NYC.
My mentors brought up lots of valid points not considered, chiefly, the start up costs involved. They carefully reviewed my background and assets and, in the end, it was determined that it would be difficult for me to pull this business venture off with the limited resources I had available - BUT not impossible. In addition, they were kind and thoughtful and appreciated my enthusiasm and ambitious nature and they made me feel like my ideas were important and worthy
How SCORE Helped
Success Story from
Central Jersey SCORE
Central Jersey SCORE Helps a Start Up 75% of original financing paid back within one year
As a returning homemaker to the work force, Cathy Hirzel had a strong entrepreneurial drive and a clear and focused vision for a cupcake bakery in a new larger strip mall on a well traveled, easy access feeder road to/from the NJ Turnpike and Route 295. She developed a business plan showing no competition in the service area, a possible location and recipes that out-classed any competition within NJ and NYC.
With excellent credit, but limited funding Cathy came to Central Jersey SCORE in March 2011 for start-up help. Robert Sullivan and Stanley Cartine, over a series of meetings, explored the issues and cautioned about the possibility of an underfunded start-up.
She remarked, “My mentors brought up lots of valid points not considered, chiefly, the start up costs involved. They carefully reviewed my background and assets and, in the end, it was determined that it would be difficult for me to pull this business venture off with the limited resources I had available - BUT not impossible. In addition, they were kind and thoughtful and appreciated my enthusiasm and ambitious nature and they made me feel like my ideas were important and worthy.”
Cathy showed her resourcefulness with a shoe-string start in obtaining start-up funding from non-commercial short term loans and by assuring site improvement were included in the lease.
The Columbus Cupcakery success is clearly evident. At the one year mark 75% of borrowed funds have been paid with sufficient cash flow to meet expenses and family needs. Customers come from a 30 mile radius for treats and hosted cupcake parties. Cathy thanks Central Jersey SCORE and her mentor’s guidance and their follow-up through the start-up.
In June, Next Avenue noted that the Center for Productive Longevity in Boulder, Colo., had launched the Inspirational Life Stories contest and the Later-Life Entrepreneurship Success Stories contest for people 50 and older. The nonprofit, which showcases the value of the 55-plus crowd, just announced its contest winners. The Most Inspirational Life Story essay by Barbara M. Traynor of Slingerlands, N.Y. details her journey across the country to start a new career of giving back.
This document details the requirements for forming a not-for-profit organization in Connecticut.
STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT
FORMING A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
BACKGROUND
Forming a not-for-profit organization is allowed under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue code and must follow some strict guidelines. There are two general categories of not-for-profits:
Washington, D.C. - SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses, is proud to announce the appointment of the organization’s first female Board Chair since its founding in 1964, Dedra M. Johanneson, entrepreneur and former owner and CEO of Johanneson’s of WI, Inc. Johanneson brings a strong passion for and knowledge of the business environment to this role and will serve as a leader and proponent for the 7.8 million women business owners, 88% of whom represent small businesses, in this country, according to the U.S.
With an honors fine arts degree from UCSD, endless inspiration from the castles, museums and churches of Europe and real world experience in creating sets for TV and movies, Margarette Johannes had everything it took to be a successful artist. But the business side of her work was another story. The idea of starting out was daunting altogether – she didn’t know the first thing about financials, marketing or business planning and didn’t know where to turn. Luckily her grandfather, Malcolm Epstein Sr., did! A former SCORE mentor himself, he directed Margarette to the place she would gain all these skills and more “practically on a silver platter!” – SCORE!
Since starting in 1995, Avant Palette has been creating extraordinary faux finishes and specialized textures for professional interior designers and discriminating home and business owners. Their clients include luxury hotels, high end offices and even a Frank Lloyd Wright residence.
Avant Palette has grown from just Margarette doing all the work herself into a company with three different locations across the United States having up to 15 independent contractors on residential, commercial and government projects, and drafting 20 major contracts a year.
Mentor Paul Hollenbach helped Margarette gain the essential tools she would need to start and maintain her successful business. Business topics ranging from advertising to insurance, government contracts to financing options, were covered and equipped Margarette with the knowledge and confidence to proceed.
How SCORE Helped
Margarette continues to meet with her SCORE mentor, as she says, “to brainstorm for my company's continuous growth.” She highly recommends the free mentoring and workshops saying, “SCORE is an entrepreneur's best friend. I would not be where I am without them. Don't let this service pass you by!”
The Pittsburgh Chapter of SCORE is pleased to announce HRV Conformance Verification Associates, Inc. (HRV), a SCORE client since 2003, was named Ernst & Young Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Region Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 and is now in contention for the National award, to be announced in November. Rochelle Stachel, Founder and President of HRV, accepted the award in the Construction Category.
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Forming a not-for-profit organization is allowed under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue code and must follow some strict guidelines. There are two general categories of not-for-profits:
